Black grateful to stakeholders for Gilas support

Title Gilas Pilipinas Coach Norman Black Expresses Gratitude to Stakeholders Amidst SEA Games Challenges

As Gilas Pilipinas prepares to defend its Southeast Asian Games men's basketball crown this December in Bangkok, Thailand, coach Norman Black has expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the various stakeholders who have patiently supported the team throughout the challenges they've faced.

The road to the tournament has been marked by uncertainty and change, with Black and the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) engaging in a back-and-forth communication with the SEA Games organizing committee from Thailand. The eligibility of naturalized players Justin Brownlee and Ange Kouame, as well as several members of the Gilas 12, was a major point of contention, adding to the team's woes.

In an interview with The Manila Times, Black acknowledged that the sudden change in eligibility rules had made it difficult to form a cohesive lineup. It's been little bit difficult to form the lineup because of the eligibility rules... Luckily for us, we got to get some of the guys permission from their teams to play for the national team, he said.

As a result, Black was forced to make last-minute adjustments, removing several players from the original list, including UAAP stars Mike Phillips and Kymani Lady, as well as Abra Weavers stalwarts Dave Ildefonso and Jason Brickman. Despite these changes, Black remains optimistic about his team's chances, citing the veteran experience of players like Parks, Wright, Bolick, Ravena, and Malonzo, as well as the youthful energy brought by Pre, Manzano, Liwag, Panopi, and Pessumal.

Gilas Pilipinas is set to face Malaysia and Vietnam in the group phase of the tournament, which will be played at the Nimibutr Stadium in Bangkok starting on December 14. With five practice sessions already under their belt, Black is confident that his team is well-prepared for the challenges ahead.

As Gilas Pilipinas looks to defend its title, coach Norman Black's gratitude to the stakeholders who have supported the team throughout the journey is well-deserved. Despite the many twists and turns along the way, Black remains focused on shaping the future of Philippine basketball, and we can't wait to see what's in store for the national squad.

Key Takeaways

Coach Norman Black expresses gratitude to stakeholders for supporting Gilas Pilipinas despite challenges
Revised Gilas 12 lineup sees several players removed due to eligibility issues
Coach remains optimistic about team's chances, citing veteran players and young talent
Gilas Pilipinas set to face Malaysia and Vietnam in the group phase of the SEA Games tournament

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This revised version aims to improve the tone by using more formal language and avoiding overly casual expressions. I also made minor changes to grammar, punctuation, and sentence structure to improve readability and flow.

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