According to FIBA regulations, foreign-born Filipino players must have a Philippine passport before the age of 16, but the top player from TNT Williams failed to do so.

This condition made concurrent national coach Chot Reyes perceives that it is impossible for the shifty Fil-Am to represent the country in the February window of the 2023 Fiba World Cup qualifiers.

“We’d love it to happen sana but I don’t think that’s going to be possible,” he told Spin Zoom In on Thursday.

In support, Al Panlilio, president of the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas, earlier wrote to the International Basketball Federation about the issue, arguing that it would make the country’s squad more competitive against other countries’ powerhouses. 

Like Williams, Stanley Pringle, Christian Standhardinger, Chris Ross, and Mo Tautuaa, who are all fellow Fil-foreigners also failed to obtain a Philippine passport before the age of 16.

Currently, Gilas secured Ange Kouame, Dwight Ramos, Juan Gomez de Liano, William Navarro, Tzaddy Rangel, and Jaydee Tungcab to be in the pool for the February window.

Despite the fact that Kouame is a naturalized player for Gilas, the former UAAP Rookie of the Year already has a full schedule, as he will play in the Group A games at Smart Araneta Coliseum in late February.

Even so, coach Reyes does not want to fulfill the FIBA pool for the Philippines by bringing in players from other PBA teams since it will disrupt and damage their schedule in the long run.

“We don’t have any more time to get other players pa. Ayaw na rin namin i-disrupt yung PBA schedule kasi if lalo nating i-disrupt yung PBA schedule, lalong naaapektuhan ang Gilas in the long-term,” 

“At least yung TNT, magkakakilala na at nagkakaamuyan na sila. They already have a system in place na we could run. That’s why we thought this was the best solution given the limitations” Reyes said.