Thailand’s SEAG rules doubtful

COME this December, Thailand turns host to the prestigious regional sporting conclave, the 33rd South East Asian Games and expect a glamorous grandeur display of its cultural heritage, while showcasing its athletic prowess. Not to mention the smooth and organized hosting of the biennial meet.

But wait, just a couple of months ago, the Thai organizing committee, had been deli dallying on the athletes’ eligibility rule, specially in basketball event, wherein the Philippines reigned supreme, winning almost all the gold medals, though losing thrice since the Games’ inception.

Since Thailand is the host, it has the prerogative and privilege, to which players’ eligibility rule to adopt to maximize its chance of winning. At first, during the first federation meeting sometime in July, the Thai organizers were reportedly choose to adopt the existing FIBA rule, which is allowing only one naturalized to be included in the teams roster and the rest are locals.

A few weeks later, new report circulated in the social media, emanating from the Thai organizers, their adopting a valid passport only, to use in entering and exiting the Games, thus allowing unlimited foreign players to be included in the team’s line up as long as they possessed a valid passport issues by the government of the country their representing.

And lately, another changes have been made by the host, this time adopting FIBA other rule. Allowing players, even with mixed cultural heritage (in other word, half breed) who have already gained their passport of their respective countries before they turned 16.

It will remembered, during last SEA Games hosted byCambodia, Since the biennial meet is not under FIBA calendar, the Cambodians paraded with six American players in their line up, and for first time beat Gilas-Pilipinas in the preliminary round and other regional opponents, such as Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand to gain a seat in the finals. But Gilas exacted revenge on the American-led Cambodia in the finals to win its 31st gold medlals.

From the looks of it, Thailand has almost insure itself as a potential threat to Gilas-Pilipinas’ bid to for its 32nd gold medal, as the Thai basketball team have been preparing long time, recruiting foreign players with Thai-descent born either or Thai parent and had been issued passport before 16-years old and will be consider as locals under FIBA rules.

It is also reported that Thailand has revealed five or six Thai-foreign players to be included in the line up, and somehow send a chilling effect to other contenders, specially to SEA Games Gilas coach Norman Black. The said report came from Thailand’s Basketball Federation, eying to form a super team named as, Fredrick Leash, Moises Morgan and Tyler Lam, who had been playing with Thailand over last two SEA Games and FIBA World Cup Asian qualifiers.

Thai-American Maximus Williams and Thai-Nigerian Junior Emanuel Chinidu-Egesu, who had been creating big waves in Thai pro-league. Two more Thai-foreign players, who have yet to be named, a half-French and half-German. Saying this is only half Thailand’s team roster.

Knowing Norman Black, the threat is remain to be seen, until we meet them face to face in December. To meet the challenges ahead, Black already named eight shoe-in Gilas reliables, led by no-less our naturalized Justine-Brownlee, Ange Koume, Ray Parks, Mathew Wright, Veejay Pre, Michael Philips, Jason Brickman, Dave Ildefenso and Remy Martin. And possible of inclusion of four collegiate standouts that would complete the 12-man roster.

Should the Thai OrganizIng Committee would, again, the rules, SBP executive director Erika Dy, said aside the 12-man lineup they have submitted, they also forwarded a list of 80 players, as possible official replacements, since the meet is still three months away.

Well, half-breed or no half-breed, Black remain unfazed with these series of build up being prepared our SEAG rivals, as we done it before, though we lose, but Gilas’ big fighting heart, we always came even stronger than it was before.