Filipino-American guard Remy Martin is in Taiwan with Strong Group Athletics, chasing a third consecutive William Jones Cup title. But beyond helping his team make history, Martin is hoping the tournament brings him one step closer to another long-standing dream: representing the Philippines with Gilas Pilipinas.
For Martin, wearing the Philippine colors would be the fulfillment of a dream he has carried since high school.
“First, I’m just happy to be in the Philippines. This feels like home, you know? I have my family in Tarlac. So I come home here almost every year. Just to get to actually play and represent the country I have been waiting for since high school, it’s been a dream come true to me,” Martin said during media day.
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“I’m always grateful to play basketball, but it makes it so much more special now because I get to play for the Philippines.”
Martin, whose mother is Filipina, has never shied away from his Filipino roots. He came close to joining Gilas Pilipinas for the 2025 Southeast Asian Games, but his hopes were dashed when he was ultimately ruled ineligible after host country Thailand imposed restrictions on the participation of foreign players.
Still, Martin has not given up on his national-team aspirations.
“I hope that one day, Gilas gives me the opportunity, because that is my dream come true. That is bigger than making it to the NBA for me,” he said.
Remy Martin says playing for Gilas 🇵🇭🏀 ‘bigger than making it to NBA’ #GilasPilipinas #RemyMartin #SpinVideo pic.twitter.com/ds7Lu5G0mM
— SPIN.ph (@spinph) August 10, 2026
“I have been watching them since I was young and always wanted to be on that type of platform.”
One of the biggest hurdles in Martin’s bid to represent the Philippines has been his failure to secure a Philippine passport before turning 16, a requirement under FIBA eligibility rules for players seeking to represent a country through nationality.
However, Martin remains hopeful after players such as Quentin Millora-Brown and Mike Phillips were granted local status after initially being classified as FIBA naturalized players.
“I hope the country and FIBA sees that. I just didn’t get my passport. I have just been a dual citizen. If I’m dual before 16, we have a strong case for it,” Martin said.
“I think it’s just going through the right people and having people help me push it because there’s no reason why I shouldn’t be on a Gilas uniform. That is my dream.”
Martin also believes he has what it takes to contribute if given the opportunity, while acknowledging that the final decision ultimately rests with the coaching staff.
“Everything about basketball, I think I’m good enough. I think I’m able to play at the highest level. But everything is system. If coach may feel like I don’t fit the team, then that’s on them. I understand, it’s basketball. Everybody wants us to win,” he said.
“But I think I’m one of the guys to help the Philippines win, and I think that if I have the opportunity, and if it was up to me, I would have been playing in the Philippines for years now. If I have the opportunity, I will always take it.”
Martin’s journey has taken him around the basketball world since going undrafted in the 2022 NBA Draft. He was later selected 40th overall by the Cleveland Charge in the NBA G League and has since played in several leagues overseas, including stints in Greece and Iceland.
Now 28, Martin is back in the Philippines orbit with Strong Group Athletics, with another chance to showcase his game at the William Jones Cup—and, perhaps, strengthen his case for the Gilas Pilipinas opportunity he has been waiting for since he was a teenager.
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