August 30, 2025 | 12:00am
MANILA, Philippines — Naturalized gamers Justin Brownlee and Ange Kouame are the one certain names on the roster thus far to signify the nation in males’s basketball on the SEA Video games in Thailand on Dec. 13-18 as coach Norman Black stated he’s nonetheless in talks with prospects from totally different leagues to finish a pool of 12 plus two reserves.
It isn’t straightforward for Black to recruit gamers because the PBA, UAAP, MPBL and overseas leagues might be in season through the SEA Video games. He’s reached out to gamers overseas however confirmations are nonetheless pending. Black declined to call who’re on his want checklist however stated he’s who’s obtainable, together with collegiate gamers in residence since they gained’t be suiting up this season.
UAAP will launch its 88th season with a gap ceremony on Sept. 19 and video games will roll out the subsequent day. The boys’s basketball match will finish in December however takes a break through the SEA Video games to permit gamers to hitch the nationwide squad. Host faculty UST is but to launch the total schedule.
Brownlee, 37, led Gilas to the gold medal on the SEA Video games in Phnom Penh in 2023. Kouame, 27, teamed with Brownlee when Gilas bagged the Asian Video games gold medal in Hangzhou, additionally in 2023. It will likely be their first time collectively within the SEA Video games.
PBA commissioner Willie Marcial stated it will likely be troublesome for professional gamers to see motion within the SEA Video games due to the battle in schedule with the Philippine Cup to open the fiftieth season on Oct. 5. The Japan B-League and Korean Basketball League aren’t more likely to launch gamers due to the identical battle with their calendars.
Black stated his plan is to start out Monday practices after he’s capable of finalize a pool of 12 gamers and two reserves. “We’re hoping to get 7 to 10 days of straight observe earlier than the beginning of the SEA Video games,” he stated. Whereas the SEA Video games start Dec. 9, the basketball competitions begin Dec. 13. Black’s teaching employees consists of Sandy Arespacochaga of Ateneo, Goldwin Monteverde of UP, Bacon Austria of Ateneo and Andre Santos of San Beda.
