Gilas Pilipinas could sport a different look when it defends its men’s basketball gold medal at the 2026 Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan this September, with two key players unavailable and more flexibility in player eligibility under the tournament’s nationality rules.
Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas Executive Director Erika Dy revealed during Tuesday’s Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum that Gilas mainstays Dwight Ramos and AJ Edu will not be part of the national team’s campaign.
However, Dy also disclosed that Fil-Australian big man Brandon Bates and Fil-American guard Sedrick Barefield are among the more than 30 players included in the SBP’s initial pool submitted for the Asian Games.
“I think it’s safe to say that Dwight and AJ (will not be with Gilas) because they’re playing in the Manila B.League Games on September 9 and 10. So conflict na yan kaagad sa schedule ng Asian Games, kaya hindi sila makakasama,” said Dy.
(C) B.LEAGUE
The Japan B.League will hold a pair of exhibition games at the SM Mall of Asia Arena on September 9 and 10, featuring Ramos’ Levanga Hokkaido against Edu’s Gunma Crane Thunders on both dates.
The men’s basketball tournament at the Asian Games is scheduled from September 10 to 20.
“In terms of lineup, yung long list natin, na-submit na natin ‘yan; about 30-plus na mga pangalan ang na-submit natin,” Dy shared.
“Sa 30-plus na yun, nandoon naman ang mga mainstays natin ng Gilas, plus we were able to have additional names na mga players na hindi necessarily eligible for FIBA competition as a local. Looking at the long list, nandiyan sina Bates, sina Barefield. May mga ganyan tayong pangalan na makikita na hindi natin usually nakikita sa ating mga window.”
Unlike FIBA competitions, the Asian Games have more relaxed nationality rules, allowing teams to field players who may not qualify as locals under FIBA regulations. Because of this, Bennie Boatwright, Angelo Kouame, and Justin Brownlee were included in the long list.
Gilas previously took advantage of the same eligibility rules during its historic gold medal run at the 2022 Asian Games, when Brownlee and Ange Kouame suited up for the national team.
Boatwright’s inclusion in the final roster, however, remains uncertain as his naturalization process has yet to be completed despite clearing the legislative stage.
His naturalization bill was approved by the Senate on June 17 and is now awaiting the signature of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
“About Bennie Boatwright, the legislative process for his naturalization has already been completed, but the process itself has not yet been completed,” said Dy.
“So nasa Malacañang pa yan, it still needs to be signed by the President, or we have to wait until it lapses into law and then manunumpa siya tapos pupunta tayo sa Bureau of Immigration para kumuha ng naturalization certificate. And with that certificate, that’s the only time that we can apply for his passport, but we did enter his name in the long list, so sana po umabot.”
