Gilas Pilipinas head coach Norman Black has named his 12-man pool for the 2025 Southeast Asian Games. Here’s a quick look at each member of the team.
It’s been said repeatedly that winning the gold medal in men’s basketball is the Philippines’ most important task in the Southeast Asian Games. It’s almost as if it’s a birthright, and winning anything less than the gold is considered a major disappointment.
Indeed, the Philippines has won 19 of 22 men’s basketball gold medals at the SEA Games. Past coaches have often joked about not bothering to go home to Manila if they weren’t going home without the gold. The last time we fell short, in the 2021 Hanoi Games, head coach Chot Reyes was vilified on social media. He did, though, lead the Gilas Redeem Team back to the top of the podium two years later under trying circumstances in Phnom Penh. Only three players from the 2023 lineup are returning for the Thailand joust.
So it’s against this backdrop that Norman Black will attempt to defend the men’s basketball gold in Bangkok with his own version of Gilas Pilipinas. Putting together this team has been challenging, with the numerous leagues busy in November and December.
Nevertheless, thanks to the organizers’ decision to keep the “passport only” rule for eligibility, Black was able to cobble together a pretty good 12-man roster. Let’s take a look at them, based on positions.
Guards
This is an interesting mix. On paper, the guard rotation has shooting, playmaking, and experience. You have two “veteran newcomers” in Jason Brickman and Remy Martin joining forces with former national team members Ray Parks, Matthew Wright, and Dave Ildefonso.
Brickman, drafted by the Black’s Meralco Bolts last September, is vastly experienced in the international game and should provide a steady hand in the backcourt. Wright is the team’s best shooter, while Parks is the versatile combo guard who can also defend both guard positions. Ildefonso also has international experience from his time with Gilas and a brief stint in Korea.
The wildcard here is Martin, who has NCAA Division 1 experience and is coming off a productive stint in Iceland. He isn’t too familiar yet with the Asian style of play, but on the flip side, opposing teams will also be in the dark as to how to defend him.
Wings
The three names under this category are all versatile enough to play multiple positions, but we’ll label them wings for purposes of this discussion.
No need to explain Justin Brownlee’s inclusion here, as he’s been the resident Gilas naturalized player for over two years now. Let’s just say he remains the number one option on offense.
We haven’t seen Thirdy Ravena in a Gilas uniform for quite some time, as he didn’t make the cut for the FIBA World Cup team and wasn’t named to Tim Cone’s pool. He does have loads of experience from playing in Japan, and though he didn’t get much court exposure in his most recent international stint in Dubai, he should be in good shape and at 28 still very much in his prime.
As early as September, Black already mentioned Ateneo Blue Eagles’ one-and-done forward Kymani Ladi in his wish list. Ladi has been a little inconsistent for the Blue Eagles so far in UAAP Season 88, but he’s six-seven and can shoot from the outside. Hopefully, by the time December rolls around, he’ll already have adjusted to the officiating in Asia.
Bigs
The frontline rotation is also interesting. Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser is the lone active PBA player on the roster and one of the three holdovers from 2023. Ange Kouame is the tallest at six-eleven and is also a veteran of the international game.
Mike Phillips is also a holdover from 2023. He currently leads the UAAP’s statistical race and will bring energy in the paint. He’s also improved his midrange jumper, so opposing defenses can’t leave him open from 15-18 feet.
The youngest member is 20-year-old Veejay Pre, who will likely fill the role of 12th man. At six-five, he’s smaller than his big man teammates, but against weaker teams, he could give some quality minutes. Black is pretty high on him after seeing him firsthand during a scrimmage between FEU and San Beda last year.
The big issue for Black and Gilas, as is almost always the case for our national teams, is practice time. Brickman and Ildefonso are still playing in the MPBL, Phillips and Ladi in the UAAP, and a number of other players are still abroad. Black has already talked about twice-a-day practices to make up for lost time.
The good news is 5×5 basketball doesn’t get going until December 13, or four days after the opening ceremony, so hopefully Gilas will have put in several hours of practice by then.
Banner images from POC-PSC