Former Meralco Bolts head coach Norman Black. Photo from PBA Images.MANILA —Meralco Bolts consultant Norman Black has a tall task ahead of him as he returns to call the shots for Gilas Pilipinas at the 33rd Southeast Asian Games in December.
A report on the PBA website on Thursday said Black was tapped as Gilas head coach for the regional meet.
During his third tour of duty, Black will face the challenge of building a roster with the new PBA season in full swing in December.
According to the PBA, the league board of governors approved in a meeting on Wednesday a 'limited number of players for the SEAG campaign since PBA Season 50 is ongoing then."
Among the usual suspects for Gilas who may not be available for the biennial meet are San Miguel's June Mar Fajardo and CJ Perez, Meralco's Chris Newsome, Barangay Ginebra's Japeth Aguilar, Scottie Thompson, Troy Rosario, and RJ Abarrientos, as well as TNT's Calvin Oftana.
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With this challenge, Black will have to form a team possibly led by naturalized players Justin Brownlee or Ange Kouame along with those who will miss the All-Filipino playoffs, and those from the collegiate ranks.
The PBA also earlier announced it will hold games in Bahrain on December 15 and 17, coinciding with the SEA Games.
Black hopes to repeat the gold medal feat of the young Sinag Pilipinas team at the SEA Games held in Jakarta, Indonesia in 2011.
The team was composed of Kiefer Ravena, Ray Parks Jr., Greg Slaughter, Cliff Hodge, Chris Tiu, Dave Marcelo, Chris Ellis, Jake Pascual, Nico Salva, Emman Monfort, and RR Garcia.
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The former Meralco head coach had his first tour of duty as national team head coach in 1994, leading the Philippines to the semifinals of the Hiroshima Asian Games.
Gilas aims to defend its 2023 SEA Games basketball crown during the biennial meet slated for December 9 to 20 in Bangkok, Thailand.