Gilas Pilipinas, the Philippine national basketball team, is set to receive substantial bonuses following their historic gold medal win at the Asian Games. Team manager Al Francis Chua recently revealed that the players will benefit from generous financial incentives, which have been bolstered by contributions from prominent figures in Philippine sports.

On October 9, Chua disclosed that two players had previously demanded significant compensation to participate in the Asian Games, although he did not name them directly. Speculation among fans suggests that one of these players might be Mikey Williams, a TNT guard known for his tough negotiation tactics. However, these claims remain unverified and are merely rumors. Regardless, team officials emphasized that those who participated in the Asian Games did so willingly, without any demands for extra allowances or financial incentives.

As per Republic Act 10699, the National Athletes and Coaches Benefits and Incentives Act, the gold medalists will receive a total of PHP 1 million each, with bronze medalists receiving PHP 400,000. This is in addition to the financial support from major sponsors like Ramon Ang of the SMC group and Manny V. Pangilinan of MVP Sports Foundation, both of whom are expected to provide additional bonuses. Reports suggest that Ang previously rewarded players with bonuses equivalent to nine times their salary after Barangay Ginebra’s championship win in 2016, indicating that the rewards for Gilas players could be substantial.

This momentous achievement marks the first gold medal for the Philippine national team in 61 years, making the financial rewards for the athletes well-deserved. The collective support from both the government and private sector highlights the growing recognition of the athletes’ hard work and dedication to bringing pride to the nation.