Meralco coaching consultant Norman Black is set to don the national colors once again as he takes the helm of Gilas Pilipinas for the upcoming Southeast Asian Games in Bangkok this December.
Black, a seasoned figure in Philippine basketball, will step in for Tim Cone, who led the squad in recent international campaigns. This time, Black will guide a team expected to be led by naturalized stars Justin Brownlee and Ange Kouame, with hopes of reinforcements from overseas-based Filipino players, particularly those currently suiting up in Japan and Korea—if their schedules permit.
However, the 2025 SEA Games run won’t feature a full-strength Gilas squad.
With the PBA’s 50th season in full swing during the SEA Games, the league’s board of governors has approved only a limited number of player releases for the campaign. As a result, top stars such as June Mar Fajardo, CJ Perez, Jamie Malonzo, Chris Newsome, Japeth Aguilar, Calvin Oftana, Scottie Thompson, Troy Rosario, and RJ Abarrientos are unlikely to join the Bangkok trip.
Despite the personnel challenges, Black brings a wealth of experience and past success. He previously guided the Philippines to a semifinal finish in the 1994 Asian Games in Hiroshima and delivered a gold medal in the 2011 SEA Games in Jakarta. He also served as an assistant to Robert Jaworski during the 1990 Asiad in Beijing.
Now, he’ll aim to defend the SEA Games gold won by Gilas in 2023 in Cambodia—redemption after the heartbreaking “Horror in Saigon” in 2021, where the country’s decades-long basketball dominance in the region was briefly halted.
With a mix of experience, grit, and national pride, Black and his revamped Gilas squad will look to once again reign supreme in Southeast Asia.