Gilas missed its best players at the Asian Games, coach Cone tells Senate hearing; Sen. Go seeks a way to keep stars available
At the Senate sports committee hearing on October 8, Gilas coach Tim Cone said Japanese and South Korean clubs did not release Filipino players for the Asian Games, which are not FIBA-sanctioned (Inquirer, Philstar, Daily Tribune). Absent were Kai Sotto, Dwight Ramos, Mike Phillips, AJ Edu and Quentin Millora-Brown. Justin Brownlee was out for health reasons and Bennie Boatwright's naturalization was not completed in time. Gilas used an all-PBA roster and finished ninth. Sen. Bong Go asked for a mechanism to keep top players available and is studying a Flag First bill.
Basketball is the country's most-watched sport, and the same availability problem has hurt national teams before. The hearing shows who sets the rules.
Fans may see changes in how national teams are selected and whether clubs must release players.
A legal mechanism could end the annual argument over whether stars can play for the flag.
Forcing clubs overseas to release players is hard to enforce, and some say the issue is scheduling and contracts, not law.
Rules that apply to non-FIBA events are the real gap. Watch whether the SBP, the PBA and Sen. Go agree on a standing policy before the November qualifier.
DailyDrop Philippines edition No. 7 · Morning · SUN., OCT. 11, 2026