No other goal but gold for PH five in Thailand SEA Games

By Jean Malanum, Philippine News Agency

SEA GAMES PREPS. Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas executive director Erika Dy (right) talks about the compact schedule of the federation in the final quarter of the year during the Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum at Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Manila on Tuesday (Sept. 9, 2025). Also in photo is Norman Black, who will coach the men’s team to the 33rd Thailand Southeast Asian Games on Dec. 9 to 20. (PNA photo by Jean Malanum)

MANILA – The Philippines is looking at no less than retaining the men’s basketball title at the 33rd Southeast Asian (SEA) Games set Dec. 9 to 20 in Thailand.

Norman Black, the multi-titled former Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) coach, said they are going to do everything possible to achieve the goal.

“Our preparations are going to be short that’s why we need to get guys who can play together very quickly and who can play together very well,” Black said during the Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum at the conference hall of the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Manila.

Black’s challenge in forming the team is the conflict of schedule for PBA players, collegiate players and those playing as imports in Japan and Korea.

“Once the team is formed, we will be ready,” Black assured. “It’s gonna be tough. It’s not gonna be easy. But we still have the talent to win the Southeast Asian Games.”

Black was the also the coach of the Philippine team, led by collegiate stars Greg Slaughter, Kiefer Ravena, Chris Tiu and Ray Parks, that bagged gold in the 2011 Jakarta SEA Games.

Already in the fold for Thailand are naturalized players Justin Brownlee, who helped Gilas win in the 2023 Cambodia SEA Games, and Ange Kouame.

Others who have committed to play for the SEAG are Parks, Matthew Wright, Remy Martin, Dave Ildefonso, Jason Brickman and Veejay Pre.

Black said he has reached out to certain players but would rather keep things under wraps until their confirmation.

Once the initial pool of players is formed, he would call for practices every Monday and prior to departure for Thailand. The team will then practice eight to nine straight days.

He said winning the gold this time would be far different than 14 years ago in the Indonesian capital.

“It’s a lot different now. Things have changed at how teams are recruiting players now. Things are different in the sense that everybody has improved in Southeast Asia,” he said. “But the goal will definitely be to win the gold. There’s a lot of work to be done.

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Meanwhile, Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas executive director Erika Dy talked about their programs, including further promoting the sport in public schools in collaboration with the Department of Education and Philippine Sports Commission.

“Hopefully, we will be signing a memorandum of agreement soon,” said Dy.