Gilas Pool Reshaped by a Scheduling Conflict
Gilas Pilipinas will defend its Asian Games basketball gold medal this September without two of its regulars. Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas Executive Director Erika Dy confirmed during the Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum that Dwight Ramos and AJ Edu will not be part of the national team’s campaign in Nagoya, Japan.
The reason comes down to the calendar. Ramos plays for Levanga Hokkaido and Edu plays for Gunma Crane Thunders in the Japan B.League. Both clubs are set to face off in a pair of exhibition games at the SM Mall of Asia Arena on September 9 and 10, the same window the Asian Games men’s basketball tournament tips off. The Asiad hoops competition runs September 10 to 20.
“I think it’s safe to say that Dwight and AJ [will not be with Gilas] because they’re playing in the Manila B.League Games on September 9 and 10,” Dy said. “So conflict na yan kaagad sa schedule ng Asian Games, kaya hindi sila makakasama.”
A Longer List, and a Different Kind of Flexibility
SBP has already submitted its long list for the Asiad, more than 30 names deep. Dy noted the pool includes the usual Gilas mainstays, plus a few names that do not typically appear in FIBA windows: Fil-Australian big man Brandon Bates and Fil-American guard Sedrick Barefield among them.
That flexibility exists because the Asian Games plays by different rules than FIBA competition. Nationality requirements are looser, which opens the door for players who would not otherwise qualify as locals. That is how naturalized stars Justin Brownlee and Ange Kouame ended up on the long list too, following the same path they took when Gilas won gold at the 2022 Asian Games.
Bennie Boatwright’s spot on the roster remains an open question. His naturalization bill cleared the Senate on June 17 and is now sitting with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. Until it is signed, or lapses into law, Boatwright cannot complete the certificate and passport process needed to suit up.
“About Bennie Boatwright, the legislative process for his naturalization has already been completed, but the process itself has not yet been completed,” Dy said. “So nasa Malacañang pa yan, it still needs to be signed by the President… but we did enter his name in the long list, so sana po umabot.”
Gilas heads into Nagoya as the defending champion. How the final roster shapes up, and whether Boatwright makes it in time, will define what kind of title defense this becomes.
