Gilas Pilipinas

Gilas 1.0 (Toroman era, 2009–2012)

Following the Northern Cement model of the 1980s, the SBP created the Smart Gilas Pilipinas program which aimed to qualify the Philippine men's basketball team in the 2012 Olympics. The Smart Gilas Pilipinas program first trained in the European style of play under coach Rajko Toroman. Smart Gilas began with a group of rising young players, led by collegiate standouts Chris Tiu, JVee Casio and Greg Slaughter, who held off on joining the PBA draft until their three-year commitments to the program ran its course.

During the 2009 preparation, the team played exhibition games against PBA teams. where game results were invariably close. After sampling local competition, the team flew to the United States and held a training camp in Las Vegas, Nevada. The young team also played scrimmage games and managed to pull off surprise wins against the more favored American Basketball Association’s Las Vegas Aces.

Smart Gilas finished third in the 21st Dubai International Basketball Tournament behind Al-Riyadi Beirut of Lebanon (runner-up), and Mahram Tehran BC of Iran (champion). The tournament was held in Dubai, UAE on January 14–23, 2010. Smart Gilas co-captain JVee Casio was named best guard of the tournament after impressing the organizers with his consistency.

Stunning the World Championship-bound Jordan national basketball team, Smart Gilas emerged as the inaugural champions in the 2010 Smart Philippine Invitational Challenge (also known as the MVP Cup) at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium from June 24–27, 2010.

Smart Gilas finished fourth overall in the 32nd edition of the 2010 William Jones Cup, with a 3–3 win-loss card. The tournament took place in Taipei, Chinese Taipei from 14 to 20 July 2010.

Smart Gilas finished fourth overall in the FIBA Asia Stanković Cup 2010, which made them qualified for the 26th FIBA Asia Championship in 2011, which in turn will be the qualifying event for 2012 London Olympics. The 3rd FIBA Asia Stankovic Cup 2010 was held in Beirut, Lebanon from 7 to 15 August 2010, in Ghazir Club Court, participated by 10 Asian national teams.

Smart Gilas lost to the KBL's (Korean Basketball League) import-reinforced Seoul Samsung Thunders by a point, 83–82, in the 4th ABA (Asian Basketball Association) Club Championship 2010 in Haining City, China from September 14–19, 2010. In the 2010 Asian Games, Smart Gilas met the Korean team anew in the quarterfinals and was eliminated.

In 2011, the SBP successfully petitioned the naturalization of Marcus Douthit. In the 2011 championship held in Wuhan, China, the team progressed up to the semifinals for the first time since 1987. In the bronze medal game against Korea, with a berth to an Olympic qualifying tournament at stake, the team raced to an early lead, but the Koreans cut the lead and eventually won the game after the Filipinos missed free-throws at the end game. Despite missing an Olympic berth, this was the best finish of the Philippines in the tournament since 1987 and its best finish in any major Asian competition since 2002.

Gilas 2.0 (Reyes era, 2012–2014)

On February 2012, Vincent "Chot" Reyes was appointed as the new head coach of Smart Gilas. His goal was to gain one of the top three slots in the 2013 FIBA Asia Championship which will qualify the team in the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup.

In 2013, the team was renamed Gilas Pilipinas. Smart Communications continued to be the program's main sponsor.

With Reyes as head coach, the Philippines finished silver in the 2013 FIBA Asia Championship, 21st in the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup and seventh in the 2014 Asian Games.

Prior to the 2014 FIBA World Cup, Andray Blatche was granted Philippine citizenship on June 2014 in order to play for the team. Blatche competed in the 2014 FIBA World Cup but was disqualified to play in the 2014 Asian Games due to eligibility issues cited by the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA). He lacked the required three-year residency in the Philippines.

On October 30, 2014, the SBP announced the formation of two selection committees to search and appoint the coach and players of future Philippine teams - Gilas Pilipinas (elite) and Sinag Pilipinas (collegiate/amateur).

Gilas 3.0 and 4.0 (Baldwin era, 2014–2016)

After the disappointing performance during the 2014 Asian Games, Gilas fans & netizens call for the replacement of Chot Reyes as Gilas head coach because he had benched quality players in important games. On October 30, 2014, the SBP announced that they will continue the Gilas program and had formed the selection committees to search and appoint the new head coach.

In December 2014, the SBP announced the appointment of Thomas Anthony "Tab" Baldwin as the new coach, replacing Reyes. Baldwin was chosen by a committee composed of SBP Vice Chairman Ricky Vargas, SBP Executive Director Sonny Barrios, PBA Commissioner Chito Salud, PBA Chairman Patrick Gregorio, and Governor Robert Non of San Miguel Beer. This decision was finally approved SBP President Manny V. Pangilinan.

June Mar Fajardo, Greg Slaughter, Japeth Aguilar and Andray Blatche are among the players likely to be considered for "Gilas 3.0", as Baldwin draws up the next Gilas Pilipinas pool for the 2015 William Jones Cup in Taiwan and 2015 FIBA Asia Championship in Wuhan, China. Unlike Reyes, who purely depends on the quickness and outside shooting of small guards, Baldwin utilizes the quality and importance of big men like Fajardo, Slaughter, Aguilar and Blatche to win games and not falter on end games. Baldwin also observed that Philippines has ‘deeper’ basketball talent pool and plans to maximize it with big and reliable players who can also block shoots, rebound and defend.

On January 23, 2015, in a move aimed at synchronizing the country’s international basketball program, the SBP-PBA search and selection committee expanded the role of Baldwin to include two other national teams to be formed for two more regional tournaments this year.

Candidates for naturalization

The team had tapped the services of former National Basketball Association center-power forward Jamal Sampson to bring much-needed depth in the middle. After the team's stint in the Dubai Club Championship, however, the SBP decided to part ways with Sampson. The team had initially considered naturalizing former Los Angeles Lakers center C. J. Giles. However, Giles was removed from the team due to disciplinary concerns.

On February 5, 2010, Smart Gilas conducted a try-out for a new prospect for naturalization. A prospect, Dwayne Jones out of Saint Joseph's University and at the time playing for Austin Toros, was set to sign a contract with the team, but instead got signed by the Phoenix Suns. Suiting up for Smart Gilas in the FIBA Asia Champions Cup 2010 was Milan Vučićević from Serbia, who was subsequently dropped from the national team. Other notable prospects were Brian Butch, Greg Stiemsma and Courtney Sims who were all signed by NBA teams. Another prospect was Jared Homan who got naturalized by Bulgarian national team.

Marcus Douthit, who was also a former second- round draft pick of the Los Angeles Lakers in 2004, tried out in June 2010. Douthit impressed Toroman during the four-day MVP Manila Invitational Tournament in Ninoy Aquino Stadium where Gilas won three of their four games. Douthit scored 26 points during the first game against a CBA team, 18 points in their defeat against the Jordan national basketball team, and 10 points in a Smart Gilas win over Jordan. The Smart Gilas management have decided to offer a one-year contract to Douthit and work on his naturalization papers. Douthit officially became a naturalized Filipino citizen on March 16, 2011.

After playing in the Philippines during the 2011 NBA lockout, JaVale McGee learned to love the country and had showed interest in playing for the Philippine Team. A bill for his naturalization was later filed but because he got injured, he failed to play for the Philippines. In 2014, JaVale McGee together with his buddy Andray Blatche was named in the Philippine Pool for the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup

Andray Blatche, who played as Center-Forward for the Brooklyn Nets, become Gilas Pilipinas' reinforcement for the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup. After playing in Spain, he was later declared ineligible for the Asian Games in Korea.

Filipino players abroad

In the summer of 2009, other U.S. and Canada-based players also scrimmaged with the team in Las Vegas. They included 6'11" center Gian Chiu of Oberlin, 6'3" guard Chris Lutz of Marshall, 6'3" guard Marcio Lassiter of Cal State-Fullerton and 6'6" forward Sean Anthony of McGill. Penn State point guard Stanley Pringle was supposed to join the scrimmages, but signed a contract to play in Belgium instead.

To date, only Lassiter, who used up his eligibility in 2009, and Lutz, who graduated from Marshall in 2010, are seeing active duty with the team. After going back to McGill to pursue his studies, Anthony was drafted by the Powerade Tigers as their 6th pick. Chiu was removed from Oberlin's regular-season lineup after incurring a foot injury early last year. He is currently going through rehabilitation.

Later in 2010, guard Chris Banchero of Seattle Pacific University was added to the pool after the team's training in Las Vegas, but is still unsure of securing a spot in the team for the Asian Games and the 2010 FIBA Asia Champions Cup due to NCAA eligibility issues.

Philippine Basketball Association players

The team has tapped the services of Philippine Basketball Association's Fil-Tongan Center Asi Taulava of the Coca-Cola Tigers for their 3rd FIBA Asia Stanković Cup 2010 stint.

The Sta. Lucia Realtors traded the rights of Kelly Williams and Ryan Reyes to the Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters. Williams and Reyes are both to be assigned to Smart Gilas on loan for the Asian Games on November 2010.

Gilas 2.0 coach Chot Reyes and team manager Butch Antonio revealed the composition of the team for the 2012 William Jones Cup in Taipei, Taiwan would include PBA stars Ranidel De Ocampo, Larry Fonacier, Sonny Thoss, LA Tenorio, Mac Baracael, Jeff Chan, Gabe Norwood, Enrico Villanueva, Gary David, Sol Mercado, Jay-R Reyes alongside naturalized center Marcus Douthit and former San Beda sharpshooter Garvo Lanete.

Because of the one-player per team policy of some PBA teams, the original 24-man Gilas 3.0 team was reduced to 16-man team.

National Basketball Association players

After playing in the Philippines in 2011, JaVale McGee, who currently plays Center for Golden State Warriors, loved the Philippine brand of basketball and had showed interest in playing for Gilas 1.0. A bill for his naturalization was filed in 2012 but because he got injured, he failed to play for the Philippines. In 2014, the recovering JaVale McGee together with his buddy and former teammate in Washington Wizards Andray Blatche was named in the Gilas 2.0 for the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup.

Andray Blatche, who also played as Center-Forward for the Brooklyn Nets, become Gilas 2.0 National Team's reinforcement for the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup and he will be playing again for Gilas 3.0 National Team in the 2015 FIBA Asia Championship.

Filipino-American Jordan Clarkson, point guard of the National Basketball Association Los Angeles Lakers, arrived in Manila on August 24, 2015 to clear his papers to be an eligible player for Gilas 3.0 National Team in the 2015 FIBA Asia Championship, he had been holding a Philippine Passport since he was 12 years old. His name was officially submitted to FIBA Asia last August 20, 2015. Clarkson, whose mother Annette, is a Filipina born in Angeles, Pampanga, joined Gilas Pilipinas in their practices as an "observer" in Manila, and thereafter in Taipei later on the same month for the William Jones Cup Invitational.

Tournament results

Current pool

This is the current 24-man pool of the Philippines national team for the upcoming 2017 SEABA Championship and 2017 FIBA Asia Cup.

2016 FIBA Asia Challenge

This was the 12-man roster of the Philippines national team for the 2016 FIBA Asia Challenge.

Coaches

List of players

NOTE: A reserved/pool player may have played in tournaments such as the FIBA Asia Champions Cup, the Stanković Cup, the W. Jones Cup, the SEABA Championship, MVP Cup and other small/pocket tournaments, but not in the FIBA Asia Championship (AC), the Asian Games (AG), the Olympic Qualifying Tournament (OQT), the FIBA World Cup (WC) or the Olympics (O).

Because of the one-player per team policy of some PBA ball clubs, the 24-men called for Gilas 3.0 was reduced to 16 players. On August 20, 2015, Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) submitted the 24-men line-up to FIBA, wherein the final 12 players will be selected for 2015 FIBA Asia Championship The Final 12 were forwarded to FIBA Asia on September 8, wherein SBP was forced to cut Jordan Clarkson from the team due to conflict in schedule with NBA.

On October 15, 2015, The PBA announced the 17-player pool of the Philippine national men’s basketball team for its campaign in the FIBA World Olympic Qualifying Tournament next year as the league reiterated its “full support” to Gilas Pilipinas.

After a heart breaking losses both to France and New Zealand in the Olympic Qualifying Tournament, Ranidel de Ocampo officially retired from National team duties and Jayson Castro would later follow.