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Philippines, 11 Feb 2026 |
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The naturalization quest begins - keep the right earnest! PhilBoxing.com Sun, 02 Mar 2014 KUALA LUMPUR (Mageshwaran's AsiaScope) -Korea's Yoo Jae-Hak and Philippines' Chot Reyes are in a rather unenviable position right now as the two set about finding solutions to the Rubik's Cube in their national team combinations for the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup (30 August-14 September). Going by their trend of the past in fielding naturalized players, Yoo Jae-Hak's task in this exercise is less strenuous and limited only to the choice that he needs to make. Korea have traditionally picked their naturalized player from within the rosters that are already being fielded in the KBL and all their naturalized players are already part of the system. Not that it's an easy job to identify the 'Chosen One', but at least there won't be any, or many, objections when Yoo Jae-Hak names the player of his choice. It will be a matter to settle between the coach (for choice), the player (for commitment) and the national federation (for all other matters). Sounds like how all other players would be treated? Yes and this exactly is how it should be handled. But in Philippines, right now, the matter is not in the hands of any of the above. Bills have been moved in the Philippine Congress by no less a person than the Deputy Speaker of the Congress itself, Antipolo City representative Robbie Puno to naturalizeJaVale McGee and Andray Blatche respectively, both former Washington Wizardsplayers. I don't dare to speak, let alone question, on the sovereignty of the Philippine Congress on according citizenship to either, or both, of these Americans. I will, like millions of Philippine basketball fans, hope for a positive response from the prudent lawmakers of the Philippines. The more irritating factor in the issue is the emergence of a group of detractors who are questioning the need for this naturalization. To them my point is simple and straight: If coach Reyes thinks there is a need for a naturalized player in his ranks for the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup, give the coach what he asks. For, Reyes is well within his right - as the coach to prepare the best Philippine representation to take on the best of the world on the world?s biggest basketball stage - as well as legitimate by law, as offered by FIBA's Internal Regulations, in seeking this naturalized player. I wonder where these detractors were when Marcus Douthit - the naturalized player in Philippines' epochal campaign at last August's 27th FIBA Asia Championship in Manila - announced his 'Pinoyness' by donating a total of 83,000 Pesos, at the rate of 500 Pesos for every point he made and every rebound he collected at the 27th Southeast Asian Games in Naypyidaw, Myanmar in aid of the victims of the super typhoon Yolanda. The 34-year-old more than proved his 'Pinoyness' then and there. I know of numerous examples within FIBA Asia itself where naturalization has been done for the sake of it - as a mere exploitation of the law, almost making us wonder if these clauses are loopholes. I won't name them here, because in the case of Korea and Philippines, these clauses have been utilized as opportunities to strengthen the national teams, the national leagues, and by logical progression - the development of basketball itself. Questioning this process, aimed at progress, is an exercise meant for the vapid. It surely is not for the passionate millions, who have one single motto in their mind and soul these days: Laban Pilipinas! So long? S Mageshwaran FIBA Asia  |
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