Despite the looming absence of some key players, the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) vows to form a competitive Gilas Pilipinas squad that will see action in the 33rd Southeast Asian Games in Thailand in December.

With most major leagues still ongoing, the federation acknowledge that they are facing a challenging scenario of losing some members of the team that won the gold medal in the previous biennial meet in Cambodia in 2023.

It also doesn’t help that the SEA Games falls on a non-FIBA window, casting a shadow of doubt among overseas-based players, including Carl Tamayo, AJ Edu, Kevin Quiambao and top center Kai Sotto, who might make a comeback after recovering from a knee injury.

Still, SBP executive director Erika Dy believes Gilas will have its mainstays for its gold medal defense.

“It’s going to be difficult but I’m confident we’ll find a way especially with stakeholder meetings such as this (National Congress) where we put all our heads together and we put our personal interest aside for the country,” Dy said.

The local basketball governing body official has secured the commitment of foreign-based Gilas players, but their availability will still depend on the contracts they signed with their respective clubs.

“I can’t speak for those leagues. For the players, there is a commitment from their end. But it will still depend on their ballclubs which we cannot control because they have contracts there,” she said.

“Unlike the FIBA windows where FIBA obliges these ballclubs to release the players to the national team, they do not do it for the SEA Games.”

Aside from foreign leagues, local tournaments like the Philippine Basketball Association will be in the middle of its 50th season by the time the biennial meet fires off. Collegiate leagues like University Athletic Association of the Philippines and the National Collegiate Athletic Association are usually in the playoffs stage by December as well.