FIBA eases eligibility rules; SBP lauds shift to age-18 passport requirement 

The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) has welcomed a major policy shift from FIBA after the world governing body approved amendments to its eligibility rules—an update that could reshape the landscape for national teams, including Gilas Pilipinas.

In its latest meeting held on December 5 in Mies, Switzerland, FIBA’s Central Board approved several revisions to how a player’s national status is determined. The most consequential change: foreign-born players will now be considered non-restricted if they secured a passport before turning 18, replacing the long-standing cutoff age of 16.

“That’s good news,” SBP president Ricky Vargas said in a brief message after learning of the update.

FIBA said the adjustments were made to streamline and clarify eligibility processes across both traditional basketball and 3×3.

“The Central Board approved amendments to the regulations for the National Status of players, notably clarifying the process under which players both in basketball and 3×3 have their national status determined or changed, introducing more objective criteria,” the federation said on its official website.

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A WELCOME DEVELOPMENT

Instead of the previous 16, the cut-off for the so-called ‘non-restricted’ players will now be at 18 according to the new FIBA ruling #FIBA #GilasPilipinashttps://t.co/CvodifAHpi

— SPIN.ph (@spinph) December 9, 2025

“Going forward, players who obtained a passport before the age of 18 rather than 16, will not be considered as restricted.”

Former SBP president Al Panlilio, who sits on the FIBA Central Board, described the shift simply: “restricted is the new (FIBA) term for naturalized.”

The Philippines has long struggled with the 16-year-old cutoff, which placed several Filipino-foreign players under the “naturalized” category despite their Filipino heritage.

NBA star Jordan Clarkson became the most high-profile case, as his Filipino passport was obtained after he turned 16, limiting him to a naturalized slot for Gilas Pilipinas. The same restriction applied to Christian Standhardinger, Stanley Pringle, and Mo Tautuaa.

The new age threshold may offer future Fil-foreign prospects more flexibility—but the rule does not retroactively change the status of those who already played as naturalized players.

FIBA also approved another significant regulation: once a player appears in a senior-level FIBA tournament for one country, they can no longer transfer to another national team.

“Players who have participated with a national team in senior main FIBA tournaments will no longer be able to play for another national team,” FIBA said.

The update follows high-profile cases like NBA veteran Eric Gordon, who represented Team USA in the 2010 FIBA World Championship before later suiting up for the Bahamas during the 2024 Olympic Qualifying Tournament, allowed at the time because his mother is Bahamian.

While the immediate impact on current Gilas players may be limited, the new rules could significantly shape future roster-building strategies. For the SBP, the update offers a clearer and more forgiving framework—one they’ve long sought as the international basketball landscape continues to evolve.

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