BANGKOK, Thailand — Despite the challenge of forming a team to defend its crown, Gilas Pilipinas men’s head coach Norman Black is pretty confident of the team’s chances in the 33rd Southeast Asian Games here.

Gilas, which is scheduled to arrive from Manila tomorrow, had a difficult time finalizing its roster after Thai organizers of the biennial meet changed the 5-on-5 basketball’s eligibility rules.

“I think the process of forming a team has been difficult because of the circumstances, but we still have good players on the team,” Black said on Tuesday as Gilas enters the final few days of its build-up before going into war starting Sunday at the Nimibutr Stadium.

From the initial “passport-only” rule, the event will be using FIBA eligibility guidelines which prohibits a team from fielding a naturalized player.

Scratched from the original list were naturalized players Justin Brownlee and Ange Kouame as well as TNT’s 6-foot-7 big man Brandon Rosser-Ganuelas, and De La Salle University’s Mike Philips, who have not been issued Philippine passports before reaching the age of 16.

This left Black looking for players from the collegiate ranks, as well as the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA), to fill the 12-man roster.

Black tapped College of Saint Benilde’s Allen Liwag, NLEX’s Robert Bolick, Titan Ultra’s Von Pessumal, Blackwater’s Dalph Panopio, free agent Justin Chua, Thirdy Ravena, Matthew Wright, Bobby Ray Parks Jr., Jamie Malonzo, Abu Tratter, Far Eastern University’s Veejay Pre, and Adamson University’s Cedrick Manzano.

“They’re still quality players, so I’m expecting that we’ll go there and we’ll play our best, and that’ll give us a chance of winning the championship. But like I said, let’s just take it one game at a time,” Black said.

Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) President Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino has expressed high hopes for Gilas.

He predicted another golden conquest.

“Gilas can win the title again — and I believe that,” Tolentino said.

“It is still painful not to see some of our players, but Gilas Pilipinas can still do it. They will still be the champion.”