Fil-Am Nation Select

Last updated

Fil-Am Nation Select
FormationDecember 2019;5 years ago (2019-12)
Founders Alex Cabagnot
Cris Gopez
Location
Region served
Australia, North America, Europe, United Arab Emirates
Parent organization
Fil-Foreign Nation Select
AffiliationsFil-Can Nation Select (Canada)

Fil-Am Nation Select is a sports agency based in the United States. It also maintains a basketball team which plays in the Philippine-based NBTC League.

Contents

Background

Fil-Am Nation Select was established by former Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) player Alex Cabagnot along with his cousin Cris Gopez in December 2019. It was set up as a means to provide a platform for United States-based players with Filipino lineage, male or female, to showcase their skills so they could be scouted by leagues or possibly play for the Philippine national team. [1] [2]

Fil-Am Nation in partnership with the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas, the Philippines' national basketball federation, has been scouting players for the Philippine women's national team via try-outs since 2020. [3] [4] [5]

They also recruit players for baseball, ice hockey, and volleyball. [6] [7] [8] The organization also do consultancy services for players as well as assistance in Philippine passport acquisition-related processes. [9]

In basketball leagues

Fil-Am Nation Select
League NBTC League
Head coach Byron Scott (men's)
Championships
    • 2 men's championships
    • 2023–24 NBTC Division I
    • 2024–25 NBTC Division I
    • 2 NBTC finals appearances

The Fil-Am Nation Select women's team won the 2023 Smart-NBTC Girls Have Next title at the expense of NU Nazareth School. [10]

The Fil-Am Nation Select men's team lost the 2022–23 NBTC League season finals against NU Nazareth School. [11] However in the 2023–24 NBTC League season, they won the title defeating Adamson Baby Falcons in the finals. [12]

The 2025 squad coached by Byron Scott, [13] retained the title. [14]

Affiliated organizations

A bigger organization, the Fil-Foreign Nation Select is meant to serve Filipinos of foreign descent. As of 2020, there are two subsidiary organizations; Fil-Am Nation Select and a Fil-Can Nation Select with the latter catering to Filipino Canadians. [1]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Leongson, Randolph (April 30, 2020). "Cabagnot's group sets up platform to identify cream of Fil-Am crop". Sports Interactive Network Philippines. Retrieved April 3, 2025.
  2. Reyes, Kate (December 24, 2020). "Bo Perasol to Fil-Am hopefuls: 'In PH, basketball is food on the table'". Sports Interactive Network Philippines. Retrieved April 3, 2025.
  3. Micaller, Bea (May 6, 2021). "3 Fil-Am prospects inch closer to making it to Gilas Women". GMA News. Retrieved April 3, 2025.
  4. Micaller, Bea (May 20, 2021). "SBP ties up with Fil-Am Nation Select for Gilas Women US tryouts; Molina, De Jesus, Fajardo among invites". GMA News. Retrieved April 3, 2025.
  5. "Finding Fil-Ams will only lead to good things for Gilas Women, says Aquino". Tiebreaker Times. June 4, 2021. Retrieved April 3, 2025.
  6. "Fil-Am Nation holds tryouts for Baseball NT". Tiebreaker Times. December 23, 2021. Retrieved April 3, 2025.
  7. Li, Matthew (April 11, 2021). "Cruz twins to help Petro Gazz identify Fil-Am talents". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved April 3, 2025.
  8. Li, Matthew (February 11, 2021). "Iris Tolenada named Fil-Am Nation's volleyball director". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved April 3, 2025.
  9. Ganglani, Naveen (April 15, 2024). "Fil-Nation Select hopes NBTC success leads to progress". All-Star. Retrieved April 3, 2025.
  10. "Smart NBTC: Nina Emnace shines as Fil-Nation outclasses NUNS for girls' crown". Tiebreaker Times. March 19, 2023. Retrieved April 3, 2025.
  11. "Fil-Am Nation, Adamson to contest 2024 NBTC Nationals crown". ABS-CBN News. March 23, 2024. Retrieved April 3, 2025.
  12. "Andy Gemao ends Fil-Am Nation's drought, claims NBTC crown against Adamson". Tiebreaker Times. March 24, 2024. Retrieved April 3, 2025.
  13. "Former NBA coach Byron Scott embraces new challenge with Fil-Am Nation Select". ABS-CBN. April 1, 2025. Retrieved April 3, 2025.
  14. "Fil-Am Nation retains NBTC title, overcomes Kieffer Alas, Phenom". Tiebreaker Times. April 6, 2025. Retrieved April 7, 2025.