Meralco Bolts consultant Norman Black is set to return as head coach of Gilas Pilipinas for the 33rd Southeast Asian (SEA) Games, scheduled from December 9 to 20 in Bangkok, Thailand.
The PBA confirmed on Thursday that Black was tapped for his third stint with the national team. However, he faces a significant challenge as the new PBA season will be in full swing during the SEA Games.
According to the PBA, the league board has approved a “limited number of players for the SEAG campaign since PBA Season 50 is ongoing then.”
This limitation means key Gilas veterans such as June Mar Fajardo, CJ Perez, Chris Newsome, Japeth Aguilar, Scottie Thompson, Troy Rosario, RJ Abarrientos, and Calvin Oftana may not be available.
With that in mind, Black may have to rely on naturalized players Justin Brownlee or Ange Kouame, PBA players not advancing to the playoffs, and prospects from the collegiate ranks.
Complicating the situation further, the PBA will also hold games in Bahrain on December 15 and 17, overlapping with the SEA Games.
Black previously led a young Sinag Pilipinas squad to a gold medal in the 2011 SEA Games in Jakarta, composed of the likes of Kiefer Ravena, Ray Parks Jr., and Chris Tiu. His first national team coaching stint dates back to the 1994 Asian Games in Hiroshima.
Gilas will aim to defend its basketball gold from the 2023 SEA Games under Black’s leadership.