MANILA -- The president of the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) has no doubt that Gilas Pilipinas can defend its men's basketball gold in the 2025 Southeast Asian Games, even without a naturalized player in their roster.
"Gilas can win the title again — and I believe that," POC President Abraham "Bambol" Tolentino told reporters on Monday after the SEA Games Council meeting at the Grand Four Wings Hotel in Bangkok, Thailand.
"It is still painful not to see some of our players, but Gilas Pilipinas can still do it. They will still be the champion," he added.
READ: Gilas Pilipinas adds Liwag, Chua, Bolick to SEA Games lineup
Gilas is coached by multi-titled mentor Norman Black for the 33rd edition of the SEA Games.
Their title defense starts on Sunday against Malaysia at 11:30 a.m., followed by the game against Vietnam on Monday at the same time at the Nimibutr Stadium.
The Philippines ran into eligibility issues heading into the SEA Games, as Thai organizers banned naturalized player Justin Brownlee, as well as TNT's Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser and De La Salle big man Michael Phillips.
Black will rely on a roster composed of: Thirdy Ravena, Matthew Wright, Bobby Ray Parks Jr., Jamie Malonzo, Von Pessumal, Robert Bolick, Justin Chua, Dalph Panopio, Abu Tratter, Saint Benilde's Allen Bryant Liwag, Far Eastern University's Veejay Pre, and Adamson University's Cedrick Manzano.
The Philippine team will fly to Bangkok on Thursday from Manila, according to Black.
According to Tolentino, they have no idea regarding the lineup of the other teams -- Pool A teams Malaysia, and Vietnam; and Pool B teamsIndonesia, Singapore, Myanmar, and host Thailand.
Gilas had ceded its crown in the 2022 SEA Games in Hanoi before regaining it a year later in Cambodia, beating the host nation 80-69 behind a 23-point, seven-rebound effort from Brownlee in the gold medal game.