SAMAHANG Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) was questioned for its decision to include Japan and Korea-based players in the original Gilas Pilipinas roster submitted to the Asian Games organizers for the 2026 Asiad despite knowing that they will not be allowed to play.
According to Fastbreak columnist Homer Sayson, the initial list of players provided to the Asian Games organizers include Japan B.League imports Dwight Ramos, AJ Edu, Quentin Millora-Brown, Jamie Malonzo,l and Mike Phillips, and Korean Basketball League standouts Carl Tamayo and Kevin Quiambao
Others listed were Kai Sotto, Justin Brownlee, Bennie Boatwright, Angelo Kouame, June Mar Fajardo, CJ Perez, Jerrick Ahanmisi, Don Trollano, Calvin Oftana, Jordan Heading, Brandon Rosser, Justine Baltazar, Justin Arana, Juan Gomez de Liaño, Adrian Nocum, Caelan Tiongson, Chris Newsome, Brandon Bates, Robert Bolick, Zavier Lucero, Sedrick Barefield, RJ Abarrientos, and Jason Perkins.
From the list, only Ahanmisi, Trollano, Oftana, Rosser, Baltazar, Arana, Nocum, Bates, Bolick, Lucero, Abarrientos and Barefield made the 12-man roster.
“Why bother putting in the names of Korea and Japan based players the SBP knew are contractually prohibited from coming,” Sayson said.
He argued that the roster could have included more available big men instead, citing Geo Chiu, Cliff Hodge and Raymond Almazan as possible alternatives.
“There would have been more flexiadding bigs such as Geo Chiu, Cliff Hodge, Almazan etc,” he added.
The comments came after Gilas failed to reach the quarterfinals of the Asian Games men’s basketball tournament.
The Philippines finished the group stage with a 1-2 record after losing to Bahrain and China while defeating Kazakhstan. (By the Staff)
