Two weeks before the start of the Southeast Asian Games in Thailand and our Philippine men’s and women’s squads were still kept in the dark as far as eligibility of players is concerned.
Head coaches Norman Black, back as mentor of the Pinoy quintet in the SEA Games since leading the all-collegiate players to a gold medal finish in the 2011 edition in Indonesia, and Patrick Aquino, a double gold medal winner of the biennial meet in 2019 in Manila, told Pinoystep.com that they remained clueless on who among the players from the roster they submitted are eligible to see action in the Bangkok Games.
“We’re still waiting,” Black wrote in a text message.
In a previous interview, Black acknowledged how challenging it is for him and the rest of the squad as not only they were kept hanging, but they have very limited time to prepare.
Unlike the first time he coached in the SEA Games 14 years ago, Black and the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas were able to determine a timeline while building up for the tournament.
“The situation is a lot different from the first time I coached in the SEA Games,” said Black. “Before, we probably practiced every Monday for about five straight months leading up to the tournament.”
“Then when the time came say like three weeks before the tournament, we started practicing almost every day. So it’s going to be a little different this time because a lot of players were playing in other teams and some of the teams overseas will not release their players to play for SEA Games because it’s not a FIBA-sanctioned event. It’s going to be difficult because we’re going to bring in guys with just about two weeks of preparation.”
Despite of so many uncertainties, Black is embracing the challenge like a loyal soldier. He has been to so many battles, being regarded as one of only few coaches in the country to enjoy success both in the professional and collegiate leagues.
As a coach, Black won 11 PBA championships, including a grand slam in 1989 while coaching San Miguel Beer. In the UAAP, he was architect of Ateneo’s five straight championships before making his way back to coach in the PBA.
But apart from being a multi-titled coach in the local leagues, Black is no stranger in handling the national team and as early as 1990, he assisted Robert Jaworski in the country’s first all-pro squad sent to the Beijing Asian Games, a team that finished with a silver medal.
Four years later, Black coached a banged up Asiad squad that finished fourth.
Through the years, Black has also assisted coaches like Chot Reyes in the 2014 FIBA World Cup as well as Tab Badlwin the next two years in the 2015 FIBA Asia Cup and 2016 Olympic Qualifying Tournament.
Our cagebelles are also facing similar predicament.
Player availability is also an issue for Aquino and his troops as they will be missing the services of overseas players and national team mainstays like Jack Animam, a double gold medal winner in the SEA Games and one of the longest-serving member of the Philippine women’s squad program, as well as Ella Fajardo.
Animam is currently playing in the Women’s Japan Basketball League for the Denso Iris squad, while Fajardo has a commitment with the Iona University Gaels, a US NCAA Division 1 team.
But Aquino is hoping he can infuse new blood to the squad as two Filipinas, who are based in the United States, Sophia Dignadice and Sarah Heyn, the youngest members of the national women’s team program.
Dignadice is the daughter of former PBA star and many-time national team member Yves Dignadice, and was acknowledged as one of the most promising women players in California.
The 17-year-old star player of Bishop Montgomery HS Girls Varsity team has received scholarship offers from Cal State Northridge and Army West Point US Military Academy.
Heyn, on the other hand, is a 5-foot-9, 18-year-old guard, has been signed to play for Santa Barbara.
According to Aquino, both players are considered local players and are expected to see action in the SEA Games.
“”They are considered local players because they got their passports before the age of 16,” said Aquino. “Infusing young blood is something we want to project for our program and both players are fitting in quickly and they have the skills to compete with senior girls.
“They are good addition to the team.”
Still, Aquino is still waiting on who among the other players from the roster intialy submitted by the SBP, will be eligible to play.
