“It’s unbelievable”: Gilas Pilipinas grateful for Filipino fans’ support at SEA Games 2025

The 33rd Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games) officially kicked off in Bangkok, Thailand, on December 9, with the Philippines sending one of its largest contingents ever—a 1,600-strong delegation competing across multiple sports.

Among the athletes representing the country is the Philippine men’s basketball national team, led by veteran coach Norman Black. As always, Gilas Pilipinas has drawn a massive following, with Filipino fans traveling from near and far to support their favorite players, making the team feel right at home in Thailand.

Gilas head coach Norman Black expressed his appreciation for the outpouring of support from the Filipino community in Bangkok, calling it “unbelievable.”

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“It’s unbelievable. It feels like we are in the Philippines right now with a lot of people in the stands to cheer for us. Hopefully, they can continue to come out as we get farther in the tournament,” Black said after Gilas’ 83–58 victory over Malaysia in Group A on Sunday, December 14, at the Nimibutr Stadium.

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Among the fans in attendance was celebrity YouTuber Zeinab Harake-Parks, cheering on her husband, Ray Parks Jr. The son of the late Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) legend Bobby Parks, Parks Jr. led Gilas from the front against Malaysia, finishing with 18 points, six rebounds, and two assists.

Black, who is the godfather of Parks Jr., was not surprised by his performance, noting the quality the star guard has consistently shown.

“You know Ray-ray already. We have all seen him in his entire career. We know how good he is. I’m just happy he said yes to me to be part of the team, and was able to get an okay from his team in Japan to play here. Like we said, we need Ray-ray as we get better as we go along. Good win, but we got to work harder,” Black said.

Despite some eligibility rule controversies, Gilas remains one of the favorites to defend their SEA Games crown. The challenge will be significant, however, with host nation Thailand looking strong as they take the court in front of their home fans.

Gilas Pilipinas will hope the combination of homegrown talent, veteran leadership, and unwavering fan support will carry them all the way to another gold.

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