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| Matthew Wright will focus first on the SEA Games before tackling his free agency. Japan B.League (file photo) |
TAGUIG—Matthew Wright will think about what is next for his career when he is done with his stint in the Southeast Asian Games next month.
However, he admitted that a return to Phoenix in the PBA is a possibility.
"That's on the horizon. I'm not gonna turn that down, but right now, I'm not focusing on that. I'm just focusing on the SEA Games right now, getting sharp, and hitting the gym with the guys," Wright said when he was a special guest in the mini-basketball clinic organized by the Japan B.League on Sunday just outside the Mitsukoshi Mall here.
Although he parted ways with Kawasaki during the offseason, Wright, being a former B.League player—for now—was still invited to help teach young ballers, including the son of the PBA's three-point king Marcio Lassiter.
The 34-year-old streak-shooting guard confirmed, though, that multiple teams have already reached out to him about the possibility of signing him up for the rest of the Asian pro league seasons.
"Once the SEA Games are over—around Christmas time—I'm gonna start ramping up the negotiations with several teams in other leagues," he further said.
Wright even revealed that the Fuel Masters team manager, Paolo Bugia, had already contacted him.
"I've met with Boss Bugs, and we talked about the potential of me coming back," Wright further said, although Phoenix's pick in the special Gilas round of the 2016 PBA Draft added Bugia is aware that he is "focused solely on the national team."
For now, all roads lead to Bangkok for the SEA Games, where Gilas Pilipinas looks to go back-to-back after reclaiming the men's 5-on-5 basketball title two years ago in Phnom Penh.
With Gilas' main squad solely focusing on the FIBA World Cup Qualifiers—all the more that the SEA Games schedule will be in conflict with the remainder of the PBA Philippine Cup eliminations—the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas tapped Norman Black to coach a "second team" composed almost of non-PBA guys.
Wright makes a Gilas return along with fellow free agent Thirdy Ravena, Osaka's Ray Parks Jr., Abra's Dave Ildefonso, TNT's Brandon Rosser—the lone PBA player in the lineup—and La Salle's Mike Phillips.
Rosser and Phillips were the two holdovers from the Gilas team that won gold back in Phnom Penh.
"It feels great to finally don the Philippine colors once again. The last time I wore it, we were unsuccessful in bringing the gold back, so this is definitely motivation. It's redemption time for us, and I really appreciated that coach Norman gave me that call to come back," said Wright, who was a member of Gilas' 2022 SEA Games squad that lost to Indonesia in the de facto gold medal game, becoming the first Philippine team since 1989 to settle for the silver in what many speculators believe is an "easy gold" for the country.
Among the first-timers are free agent Remy Martin, Weaver Jason Brickman, Ateneo Blue Eagle Kymani Ladi, and incoming University of the Philippines Fighting Maroon Veejay Pre.
Justin Brownlee, also a member of Gilas' SEA Games gold medalists back in 2023, and Ange Kouame were supposed to rejoin the national team too, but a recent eligibility ruling set by host country Thailand barred both naturalized players from participating.
Kouame, though, has been allowed to compete in the men's 3x3 event since the no naturalized player rule was only set for the 5-on-5 competition.
