THOUGHTS | THE GILAS PILIPINAS ROSTER SHOCK

Thailand’s stricter basketball eligibility rules have suddenly put the Gilas Pilipinas campaign for the 2025 Southeast Asian Games in a tight spot. Reports say Filipino-Americans Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser, Mike Phillips, and Remy Martin were removed from the roster.

Naturalized players Justin Brownlee and Angelo Kouame are also out, although the former Ateneo big man will suit up for the 3x3 squad.

People are already saying Thailand played this move to tilt the competition and steal the gold from their long-time SEAG rivals—us.

And honestly? I can’t blame them.

The SEA Games is built on sportsmanship, sure, but host nations also use it to flex their athletic strength. It’s contradictory, but it’s how the event works. It’s similar to Indonesia hosting the 2023 FIBA World Cup—yes, the best teams should compete, but it still felt weird not having the hosts in the actual tournament.

But this is exactly why talent pools exist. What happened to tryouts? Why invite players without having a deep backup plan? Thailand may have talent, but we’re overflowing with basketball talent across the globe. Over the years, Gilas has always had tryouts, pools, and scouts bringing in prospects from everywhere. There are shoo-ins, yes, but there must also be role players who fit the coach’s system.

Look back at the early days of Gilas Pilipinas, then called Smart-Gilas. Aside from headliners like Chris Tiu, Japeth Aguilar, JV Casio, and Mark Barroca, Rajko Toroman also has a bunch of UAAP/NCAA standouts like Rabeh Al-Hussaini, Greg Slaughter, Aldrech Ramos, JR Cawaling, RJ Jazul, Rey Guevarra, Jason Ballesteros, and Magi Sison. Their U.S. training stint even led them to Marcio Lassiter and Chris Lutz. By the 2011 FIBA Asia Championship, only a handful of the originals remained as Toroman brought in Marcus Douthit and PBA veterans Asi Taulava, Jimmy Alapag, Kelly Williams, and Ranidel De Ocampo.

That’s how you build a national team: start wide, then fine-tune the roster as the competition approaches.

Norman Black has been named coach for a while now, and with the massive pool of Filipino talent—local and abroad, college and pro—there’s no way we can’t field a competitive 12-man lineup. When Chot Reyes stepped down in 2023, Tim Cone took whatever was available from the pool and still delivered our first Asian Games gold since 1962.

Right now, most MPBL teams are on break, half the UAAP is eliminated, and majority of the NCAA is done for the season. The PBA even has free agents itching to play—headlined by Terrence Romeo. MPBL talents like Orlan Wamar, Mike Ayonayon, and Cedrick Ablaza could be options. Veterans like Marc Pingris and Vic Manuel are still serviceable. College standouts such as Cedrick Manzano, Janrey Pasaol, Kirby Mongcopa, Jared Bahay, Wello Lingolingo, Clint Escamis, Ato Barba, T-Mc Ongotan, and Jhuniel Dela Rama could be explored too.

I’m not saying these guys should be the main rotation, but with Bobby Ray Parks, Veejay Pre, Matthew Wright, Thirdy Ravena, and new additions Jamie Malonzo, Robert Bolick, Abu Tratter, and Von Pessumal already in the mix, now is the perfect time to find either a stop-gap solution just to complete the roster or the next big Gilas prospect.

Then there’s the Abra Weavers issue. Their core is leaving because they’re playing in the 2025 MPBL Finals. Honestly, I don’t blame them. They signed up to win a championship for their city. Abra’s entire system leans heavily on players like Dave Ildefonso, Geo Chiu, and Jason Brickman. How can you expect them to abandon a title run—especially when Chiu and Brickman are heading to the PBA next season?

History shows how tricky national team commitments can be. In 1998, Alaska let Tim Cone and its starters join the Centennial Team, costing them a potential second grand slam. In 2002, Danny Seigle’s injury during AG preparations derailed both the national team and his once-MVP-caliber trajectory.

Decisions like these have long-term consequences.

Still, Thailand is bound by these same eligibility rules. And while they can pull more mind games to throw us off, Gilas needs to stay ready. The best way to respond? Bring in hungry players who are extra motivated by all this drama.

I’m sure someone like Juan Gomez de Liano would LOVE another shot to shine on the international stage.

Just saying.