ISINUMITE na ng Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) ang 28-man national pool nito sa Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) para sa kanilang nalalapit na kampanya sa 32nd Southeast Asian Games basketball tournaments sa Cambodia sa Mayo.
Ang Gilas Pilipinas men’s basketball pool ay pinangungunahan nina PBA MVPs June Mar Fajardo at Scottie Thompson, at naturalized player Justin Brownlee.
Pasok din sa pool sina PBA players Japeth Aguilar, Kevin Alas, Raymond Almazan, Aaron Black, Poy Erram, Jeremiah Gray, Marcio Lassiter, Jamie Malonzo, Chris Newsome, Calvin Oftana, CJ Perez, RR Pogoy, Stanley Pringle, Chris Ross, Brandon Rosser, Christian Standhardinger, Arvin Tolentino, at Mikey Williams.
Nasa listahan din sina Mason Amos, AJ Edu, Jerom Lastimosa, magkapatid na Ben at Mike Phillips, Kevin Quiambao, at Schonny Winston.
Sa huling edisyon ng SEA Games ay nabigo ang bansa na maiuwi ang gold medal sa men’s basketball tournament sa unang pagkakataon magmula noong 1989. Dalawang miyembro lamang ng koponang iyon — Fajardo at Pogoy – ang nasa pool para sa edisyong ito.
“That moment is upon us, and we’re not leaving any stone unturned in our overall bid to regain basketball glory in our region,” sabi ni SBP president Al Panlilio. “What we’ve gone through after that fateful day in Hanoi, both the wins and the losses in the various tournaments that followed, are, in effect, geared also toward bringing the SEA Games gold medal back to our shores.”
Samantala, isinumite na rin ng Gilas Women national team ang pool nito na kinabibilangan nina Jack Animam, Stefanie Berberabe, Afril Bernardino, Kate Bobadilla, Chak Cabinbin, Mikka Cacho, Khate Castillo, Clare Castro, Kristine Cayabyab, Camille Clarin, Monique Del Carmen, Kacey Dela Rosa, Ella Fajardo, Aurea Gingras, Katrina Guytingco, Mai Loni Henson, Jhazmin Joson, Kennan Ka, Louna Ozar, Ann Pingol, Janine Pontejos, Sofia Roman, Angel Surada, Andrea Tongco, at Kristan Yumul.
Target ng koponan ang ikatlong sunod na gold medal sa SEA Games.