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Tag: Asian Games

  • Dylan Harper ineligible to play as Gilas local, SBP clarifies passport issue 

    Dylan Harper ineligible to play as Gilas local, SBP clarifies passport issue 

    The dream of seeing NBA rookie Dylan Harper suit up for Gilas Pilipinas as a local player has hit a major roadblock.

     

    Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) Executive Director Erika Dy confirmed that the San Antonio Spurs guard is not eligible to represent the Philippines as a local player because he did not obtain a Philippine passport before his 18th birthday — a key requirement under FIBA eligibility rules.

     

    The clarification also applies to Dylan’s older brother, Ron Harper Jr., who is currently with the Boston Celtics organization.

     

    According to Dy, the Harper family had previously expressed interest in exploring the possibility of representing Gilas Pilipinas, but by the time discussions took place, Dylan had already exceeded the age requirement.

     

    “To begin with, I don’t believe si Dylan has a passport already. Although they’ve reached out, I think, two years ago nung nasa Las Vegas kami ni coach Norman [Black] asking about eligibility,” Dy shared during the Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum.

     

    “But he was already 18 at that time or 19. And wala pa pala silang passport.”

     

    Under FIBA regulations, players with multiple nationalities must secure the passport of the country they intend to represent before turning 16, with eligibility considerations extending before they reach 18. Since Dylan failed to meet that requirement, he cannot be classified as a local player for the Philippines in international competitions.

     

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    The development closes the door on one of the country’s most intriguing basketball possibilities.

    Harper, the son of five-time NBA champion Ron Harper and Filipina Maria Pizarro Harper of Bataan, has emerged as one of basketball’s brightest young talents after being selected No. 2 overall by the San Antonio Spurs in the 2025 NBA Draft.

     

    His older brother, Ron Jr., has likewise climbed to the NBA level after earning a spot with the Boston Celtics.

     

    Despite their Filipino heritage, both brothers would only be eligible under different FIBA provisions, not as local players.

     

    “So definitely, yung magkapatid, they won’t be eligible as a local kung maglalaro sa Gilas yan,” Dy said.

     

    While Dylan Harper’s path to becoming a Gilas local has officially been ruled out, the clarification provides a definitive answer to one of Philippine basketball’s most frequently discussed eligibility questions.

     

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  • SBP submits initial Gilas pool for 2026 Asian Games in Nagoya

    SBP submits initial Gilas pool for 2026 Asian Games in Nagoya

    The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) has taken the first step toward assembling Gilas Pilipinas’ roster for the 2026 Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan, submitting an initial list of candidates for the men’s basketball competition as the national team begins preparations for its title defense.

     

    SBP executive director Erika Dy confirmed that the federation has already forwarded a preliminary pool of players to the Asian Games organizing committee. However, she stressed that the list remains subject to changes, with the final 12-man lineup that will represent the Philippines under head coach Tim Cone still yet to be determined.

     

    “There was already a short list that was submitted. But it’s not yet the final list because, just like in the Southeast Asian Games, there can still be changes in the end,” Dy said during her appearance at the Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Forum on Tuesday, July 28.

     

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    The initial submission reportedly includes more than 30 players, with the core members of the current Gilas Pilipinas program included in the pool. According to Dy, the list reflects the federation’s commitment to maintaining continuity while also keeping its options open as the coaching staff evaluates player availability, form, and team needs leading up to the continental competition.

     

    Despite having a strong group of candidates, Gilas Pilipinas will be forced to deal with the absence of some key contributors due to scheduling conflicts. Dy confirmed that Dwight Ramos and AJ Edu are unlikely to be available for the Asian Games after both players are committed to their respective teams in the Japan B.League.

    The two Filipino standouts are scheduled to participate in the B.League Manila Games showcase on September 9 and 10, a commitment that overlaps with the Asian Games calendar.

     

    “Out of that 30-plus, the mainstays of Gilas are there. I think it’s safe to say that Dwight and AJ won’t be available because they are playing in the B.League Manila Games. So there’s a schedule conflict with the Asian Games,” Dy explained.

     

    Ramos and Edu have been important pieces of the national team setup in recent years. Ramos has emerged as one of Gilas’ most reliable perimeter players, providing scoring, defense, and leadership, while Edu has been a key presence in the frontcourt because of his athleticism and defensive ability. Their potential absence means Cone and his staff may have to explore different combinations heading into the tournament.

     

    Still, the SBP remains confident that the Philippines will have a competitive roster capable of challenging for another championship. The core of the national team program that delivered success in recent international competitions remains intact, giving Gilas a strong foundation heading into Nagoya.

     

    Gilas Pilipinas enters the 2026 Asian Games as the defending men’s basketball champion after ending a historic 61-year drought in the previous edition held in Hangzhou, China.

     

    The Philippines captured the gold medal in 2023 with a memorable 70-60 victory over Jordan in the finals, a win that marked the country’s first Asian Games basketball title since 1962. Led by a combination of veteran leadership, young talent, and strong team chemistry, Gilas produced one of the most significant moments in Philippine basketball history.

     

    With the pressure of defending its crown, Gilas Pilipinas will now begin the process of finalizing its roster while navigating player availability and international commitments. The SBP is expected to continue monitoring candidates before Cone and his coaching staff make the final decisions on the players who will carry the Philippine flag in Nagoya.

     

    As preparations continue, the national team will look to build on the momentum of its Asian Games triumph and prove once again that the Philippines remains one of the strongest basketball nations in the region.

     

     

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  • PH Men’s Football Team secures Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games slot after India withdraws 

    PH Men’s Football Team secures Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games slot after India withdraws 

    The Philippines will have complete representation in football at the 20th Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya after the men’s national team earned a late qualification berth, joining the women’s squad that had already secured its place for the Sept. 19 to Oct. 4 continental meet.


    The additional slot further strengthens what is shaping up to be one of the country’s largest contingents to the quadrennial event.

     

    With the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) confirming that 443 athletes have already qualified to compete across 38 of the 47 sports on the program.

     

    POC president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino announced the latest development on Monday, June 29, saying the country remains on track to send its biggest delegation in the last eight editions of the Asian Games.

     

    “The minimum goal is to do better at these games,” said Tolentino, referring to breaking medals in Hangzhou.

     

    The Philippines previously fielded a record 524 athletes during the 1994 Hiroshima Asian Games, while 391 athletes represented the country in Hangzhou in 2023. 

     

    Including coaches, trainers, medical staff, and officials, the entire Philippine delegation could swell to around 700 members should gymnastics confirm the qualification of five more artistic gymnasts.

     

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    The men’s football team received its opportunity after India withdrew from the tournament, allowing the Philippines, which was next in line, to take the vacant spot.

     

    “We’re next in line so we got the slot,” Tolentino said.

     

    With the qualification, the Philippines will now be represented in both the men’s and women’s football tournaments, marking a complete football campaign in Aichi-Nagoya. 

     

    The men’s competition will feature 16 nations and will follow the traditional under-23 format, with each squad allowed to include up to three overaged players. 

     

    The women’s tournament, meanwhile, will be contested by 12 national teams.

     

    The late entry also gives the Philippine men’s team valuable exposure against some of Asia’s strongest football programs, while complementing the women’s squad, which had already secured its berth earlier in the qualification process. 

     

    Having both teams compete on the continental stage underscores the steady growth of Philippine football and adds another highlight to what could become one of the country’s most extensive Asian Games campaigns.

     

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  • PBA adjusts 2026 Governors’ Cup calendar around packed Gilas Pilipinas schedule 

    PBA adjusts 2026 Governors’ Cup calendar around packed Gilas Pilipinas schedule 

    The PBA’s next conference will not simply revolve around the race for another championship — it will also revolve around Gilas Pilipinas.


    On Tuesday, the league officially released the full schedule for the 2026 Governors’ Cup, unveiling a calendar heavily shaped by the national team’s commitments in both the FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers and the 20th Asian Games.


    The season-opening conference will begin on July 10, but unlike a traditional uninterrupted tournament run, the Governors’ Cup will unfold in phases as the league makes room for one of the busiest international stretches in recent Philippine basketball history.


    The opening leg of the elimination round will run from July 10 to August 14 before the PBA temporarily pauses operations for nearly two months to give way to Gilas Pilipinas duties.

    That break immediately places the spotlight on the national team.


    Gilas Pilipinas Men will first open its campaign in Window 4 of the FIBA World Cup 2027 Asian Qualifiers against the New Zealand Tall Blacks in Auckland on July 3 before traveling to Perth to battle the Australia Boomers on July 6.


    After the qualifier window, attention quickly shifts toward the 20th Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan scheduled from September 10 to 20 — a tournament where the Philippines will attempt to defend the historic gold medal it captured in Hangzhou.


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    The extended league break reflects how much importance Philippine basketball officials are placing on the national team campaign.


    Once Gilas completes its international assignments, the PBA resumes action on October 7, with the remaining elimination round games scheduled until October 21.


    The quarterfinals will then follow from October 23 to November 8 before another temporary shutdown arrives.


    The second break, stretching from November 9 to December 3, was again built around Gilas Pilipinas preparations for Window 5 of the FIBA World Cup qualifiers, scheduled from November 23 to December 1.


    After that final international interruption, the league will enter the decisive stretch of the conference.


    The best-of-five semifinals are slated from December 4 to December 13, while the Governors’ Cup Finals will begin on December 16 and could extend until December 30 if the series reaches the limit.


    With the calendar now finalized, the 2026 Governors’ Cup shapes up as one of the most nationally intertwined conferences the PBA has staged in years — one where league ambitions and national team responsibilities will constantly overlap throughout the season. 


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