Gilas coach Norman Black amazed at the overseas Filipino talent at SBP’s camp in Las Vegas

Arjun DevganBasketball1 week ago172 Views

Meralco Bolts coaching consultant Norman Black was recently appointed head coach of Gilas Pilipinas for the 2025 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Thailand, as regular national team head coach Tim Cone will be occupied with Barangay Ginebra San Miguel in the Philippine Cup.

 

Black was part of the basketball caravan hosted by the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) in Las Vegas, California, as part of the sporting body’s talent identification and development program.

 

The 67-year-old was impressed by the overseas Filipino talent on display at the camp, revealing that at least 10 kids have the potential to play for Gilas Pilipinas in the future.

 

“There are at least 10 kids in that camp who can play for the national team in the future, in my opinion. But of course, they still have to prove themselves against our homegrown talent,” Black said on the occasion.

 

Black, who heads the SBP grassroots program for player identification and development, was joined at the camp by new Magnolia Hotshots and current Gilas Pilipinas Youth head coach LA Tenorio, as well as Gilas Women’s head coach Pat Aquino.

The camp aims to identify talented youngsters who may one day represent the Philippines. SBP executive director Erika Dy was present, along with a representative from the Philippine consulate, who advised parents on issues related to obtaining a Philippine passport.

 

“We are in the process of helping those who need Philippine passports. We even brought in a member of the Philippine consulate in Los Angeles to talk to the parents and coaches about their individual cases. So even if these kids won’t be eligible for the upcoming FIBA Under-16 Asia Cup in Mongolia, hopefully, they will be able to join the Gilas Youth pool in the future,” Black added.

 

Even if the camp helps identify talent, the key challenge lies in ensuring that these youngsters will be eligible to represent the Philippines moving forward.

 

“Facing us now is the challenge of them going through the process of obtaining Philippine passports. All of them have Filipino blood through their parents or grandparents, but we need them to get passports preferably before the age of 16. Very few of them presently have one,” Black concluded.

 

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