Norman Black confident Gilas can contend despite turbulent SEA Games roster build

Gilas Pilipinas is heading into the 33rd Southeast Asian Games with a roster forged under chaotic circumstances, but head coach Norman Black insists the team still possesses the talent necessary to fight for gold.

The final lineup—assembled after what the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) described as a “tedious back-and-forth” with organizers over eligibility—mixes Japan B.League standouts Ray Parks, Thirdy Ravena, Matthew Wright, and Jamie Malonzo with PBA talents Robert Bolick, Von Pessumal, Dalph Panopio, and Abu Tratter. Also joining the squad are free agent Justin Chua and collegiate players Allen Liwag, Cedrick Manzano, and Veejay Pre.

For Black, the formation may have been difficult, but the competitiveness of his roster is not in question.

“I think the process of forming a team has been difficult because of the circumstances, but we still have talented players on the team. They are still quality players, so I am expecting that we will go there and we will play our best, and that will give us a chance of winning the championship,” Black said.

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He added that Gilas intends to approach the tournament with a disciplined mindset. “But like I said, let us just take it one game at a time. Let us start off with Malaysia.”

Gilas opens its campaign on December 14 at the Nimibutr Stadium against Malaysia, before facing Vietnam the following day.

Despite limited preparation time, Black has already begun scouting the opposition. Group B features Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore, and Myanmar, though the Philippine coach has kept his attention on early opponents.

“Actually, I have seen the line-up of Vietnam. The line-up of Malaysia has not been released yet. I have not seen a copy of it. I have seen the line-up of Thailand because that was released already. I have seen some of them play on the internet, obviously, just like they are doing with us,” he said.

The sentiment of resiliency extends beyond the coaching staff. Philippine Olympic Committee president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino remains firm in his belief that Gilas can defend its SEA Games title even without some of its key reinforcements.

“Gilas can win the title again — and I believe that,” Tolentino said. “It is still painful not to see some of our players, but Gilas Pilipinas can still do it. They will still be the champion.”

With a roster built through adversity and expectations tempered but unwavering, Gilas now heads to Bangkok carrying both uncertainty and belief—an identity sharpened not by what went right, but what they overcame before the first game even tipped off.

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