For years, wearing a Gilas Pilipinas jersey remained out of reach for Sedrick Barefield despite his Filipino roots.
Now, the Blackwater star is closer than ever to turning that childhood dream into reality.
Barefield has been named to the 30-man Gilas Pilipinas pool for the 2026 Asian Games, giving him a legitimate opportunity to represent the Philippines for the first time in international competition.
Unlike FIBA tournaments, where Barefield is ineligible to suit up as a local player, the Asian Games follows a different set of eligibility rules that only require athletes to hold a Philippine passport.
That distinction suddenly places the explosive guard firmly in contention as Gilas prepares to defend the historic gold medal it captured in Hangzhou two years ago.
The Fil-Am guard admitted the news caught him by surprise but quickly became one of the biggest moments of his basketball career.
“I was really excited. It got sent to me early in the morning.”
Barefield told reporters.
“It’s something that, as a kid, you always dream about. I’ve been aware of it since I was young, so I’m just excited. I’m praying for the best.”
His inclusion comes alongside Meralco big man Brandon Bates as among the fresh faces added to the expanded national team pool ahead of the September tournament in Japan.
While making the preliminary list is only the first step, Barefield understands the opportunity that now lies in front of him.
Rather than looking too far ahead, he plans to focus on proving himself if given the chance to train with some of the country’s best players under Gilas.
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“I’m not sure what’s going to happen from here, but I’m praying for the best,”
he said.
“I’m going to give it my all day in and day out. I’m going to soak up as much as I can from the players around me and use it as an opportunity to grow and learn.”
Barefield also backed up his growing reputation on the court just hours after the announcement.
The high-scoring guard erupted for 26 points to lead Blackwater past Phoenix, 106-100, in the opening game of the second round of the PBA Season 50 Governors’ Cup, further strengthening his case as one of the league’s most dynamic offensive weapons.
Should Barefield survive the final cut, he would become one of the key backcourt options for a Gilas squad aiming to defend the Asian Games championship it famously won in 2023 under coach Tim Cone.
For Barefield, however, the objective extends beyond simply making the roster.
“You want to walk away with a medal, a gold medal. Hopefully we can bring that home,” Barefield added on Gilas’ Asian Games mindset.
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