By Gio Gloria 

When this current iteration of Gilas Pilipinas was formed, it was billed as a group with a core from the PBA supported by the promising Filipino players from Japan’s B.League and the Korean Basketball League (KBL). 

Three games into the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup, though, it’s been Dwight Ramos and Kevin Quiambao who have been leading the offensive charge along with Justin Brownlee, while Aj Edu has stood his ground as the Philippines’ best defender. 

Carl Tamayo’s numbers have been limited, but anyone who’s been following Gilas’ last three games has seen how he has not only maximized his minutes, but he has also put his body on the line to help Gilas Pilipinas win in any way possible. 

In a must-win game against Iraq, it was the Philippines’ young guns that needed to put their best foot forward with Brownlee struggling and when it was gut-check time, those with international experience stood tall. 

Credit must still be given to the likes of Scottie Thompson and Chris Newsome, but it’s been obvious that those with stints abroad have been able to hold their own in what is relatively unfamiliar territory. Of course, the struggles of June Mar Fajardo and CJ Perez have been well-documented, while Calvin Oftana has been having quite a lot of cardio in recent days, but it’s clear that their experience with the national team hasn’t been of much help compared to those who spent much of the past year playing against opponents they likely won’t see in a club after the game. 

Much has been said about the PBA’s controversial three-year ban on Filipinos who dodge the league for greener pastures, but as it stands, it may not only be counterproductive, but also be detrimental to Philippine basketball. 

Moving abroad is more than just chasing financial gains for Filipinos as it provides a challenge to them from a basketball perspective. An unfamiliar setting and a different kind of basketball requires a lot of adjustments and the presence of many imports teaches them how to overcome players that are bigger and possess more skill. 

Playing against the same people whose skill levels more or less remain the same plateaus the game, but in the B.League and the KBL, players change and develop. We’ve seen Dwight Ramos become a steady player, while Carl Tamayo and Quiambao have been able to translate their games beyond the UAAP. Edu has become more dependable, while Kai Sotto has blossomed and definitely been missed in this campaign. 

As Gilas Pilipinas enters the knockout rounds, we can expect them to live and die by the players who ply their trade abroad. It’s great to see them playing significant roles now, because they will pretty much be the core for the next decade or so. It says a lot about basketball in other countries, but it also speaks volumes as to how Philippine basketball needs to catch up, lest they want to see more of the locals seek greener pastures abroad, ban be damned.