The Houston Rockets' guard and Filipino-American Jalen Green meets with fans in Makati City as part of his JG4 Manila Tour on August 11, 2022. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News/File

Filipino basketball fans' hopes of seeing NBA players Jalen Green and Onyeka Okonwu in the Gilas Pilipinas jersey look bleak, as both have expressed their intent to represent other national teams instead of the Philippines.

Green, who has visited Manila three times and traces his roots to Ilocos Sur, stirred the possibility during an interview with Venencio Valencia of Sports on Air in December. Asked about one day playing for Gilas, he said: "Maybe, I gotta try Team USA first."

Sought for clarification by ABS-CBN News, Green explained: "I want to accomplish playing and winning a gold with the USA first."

"There's no like, consideration. I wanna play for the States first, then I'll go play for Gilas," he added.

Green, who is in his fourth season with the Houston Rockets, last visited the PHilippines in 2022 for a promotional tour with a shoe brand. He has played for the United States in the youth level and was the MVP of the FIBA Under-17 World Cup in 2018. 

FROM 2018: Fil-Am Clark, Team Hustle get the better of Green's Team Heart

FROM 2019: Green outduels Sotto, FilAm Sports ousts Ateneo in 2019 NBTC Nationals

Though Gilas is not a priority for Green at the moment, he is happy that more players of Filipino descent are in the NBA. Recently, Philadelphia's Jared McCain revealed that he is part Filipino, while Boogie Ellis is ewing action with Sacramento's G-League affiliate, the Stockton Kings.

"I think it's lit," said the 22-year-old Green. "The Philippines, it's an amazing country. They love basketball, and they got some really good guys representing."

He also offered some advice to former G-League teammate Kai Sotto, who is still trying to make it to the NBA but is currently plying his trade in Japan.

"Just keep working," said Green. "Stay in the gym. I mean, he has all the tools to be a really good player. So you know, just keep your head down. Some journeys take longer than others, just continue to fight it out."

Okongwu, for his part, was reportedly part of the national team's 60-man pool for the 19th Asian Games, where he was said to be a candidate for naturalization.

He grew up in Chino Hills, California where he was part of an AAU team with Filipino Coaches. 

However, he clarified that the Philippines is also not on his priority list if he is to play FIBA basketball in the future.

"Maybe, I probably said something about it," Okongwu said of reports that he is open to being naturalized for the Philippines.

"But you know, if I'm trying to play internationally, it would be for Team Nigeria," he added. 

The 24-year-old forward, who played collegiate basketball for USC, was born to Nigerian immigrants.

"I probably said something about it [Gilas], and I got love for my old coaches, but nah, [I'm] Team Nigeria," he added.

He also had a short response when asked if anyone from the Philippines has approached him regarding naturalization: "No."

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