The naturalization issue

The last time I checked, we still live in a free and tolerating country.  I’ll take advantage of the freedom of speech.  This is a matter of opinion, so love me, hate me or whatever, what you will be reading are my own personal views.

FIBA says a baller can represent a country different from his place of birth if at least a parent or a grandparent was from that country represented.  They can still play for a chosen country even without parental ties provided they go thru naturalization proceedings.

Since our national basketball team, The Gilas, will be in Spain this August for the FIBA World Championships, Cong. Robbie Puno filed two separate bills in Congress for the naturalization of current NBA players JaVale McGee and Andre Blatche as backup to current naturalized import Marcus Douthit.

As I recall, Douthit’s process took at least six months.  We don’t have time on our favor so fast-tracking will be made.  If approved, both will be added to the national team pool and since Douthit has some injury issues, either one of them will be a big boost to our small chance of moving up to the next round.  International basketball’s governing body allows only one naturalized player per 12-man roster.

FIBA has, and will always allow this practice.  Notice that all European teams, notably countries whose citizens are fair-skinned, have at least one colored athlete on their squad.  Majority, if not all of these players come from the good old US of A.

Asia also have their own imports.  From Lebanon to Japan to our republic, we have reinforcements.  Qatar could be the exception as I had gathered that most of their players were born outside of that country.  I’m still wondering how this nation got away with the “one naturalized player per 12-man roster” rule.

Naturalization is an act of the judiciary that adopts aliens and granting him or her rights accorded to natives.  Further, the process requires the candidate to renounce his former citizenship and embrace our constitution and by-laws.  Our naturalization laws states that a candidate must be at least 21 y.o., has continuously resided in PH for at least 10 years, owns property or investments and other related requirements.

In cases of athletes, US basketball players in particular, there could be other provisions aside from the above-mentioned but I seriously doubt if they will be renouncing their US citizenship and adopt a foreign culture.  

Prominent naturalized American players include Hakeem Olajuwon (Nigeria) and Tim Duncan (Virgin Islands) who both played for the US Olympic basketball team in 1996 and 2000 respectively.  Carlos Boozer (Germany) at some point was on the USA Basketball pool.  Probably Kyrie Irving has become a US citizen as he originally was from Australia.  Most likely, they all went thru legal naturalization procedures.

Americans, to name a few, who opted to be foreigners include Chris Kaman whose great grandparents were from Germany, became German in 2008. Jackson Vroman, a former Ginebra import, plays for Lebanon.  We saw also Rashiem Wright in the FIBA Asia last August playing for Jordan.

The WNBA’s Becky Hammon, after being left out of the US Olympic Women’s Basketball team, opted to become Russian and has since played for Russia during the ’08 and ’12 Olympics. 

JR Holden, after playing for one year in the Euro League with CSKA-Moscow, became Russian thru a presidential decree by Vladimir Putin in 2003.  Another JR, this time Henderson, immersed himself in the culture of his adoptive country, learning to speak, read and write local.  Upon naturalization, he even changed his last name.  He’s so fluent in the language that if not for his color, JR Sakuragi is so Japanese.  Will Blatche become Andre Magtanggol?  What about JaVale Kampilan and Marcus Sampungbuhay?  Ouch!

I’m for the naturalization of Blatche and McGee.  Damn, if we can afford it, why not naturalize one the Decepticons or Transformers.  As long as we make a good showing in the world stage and within the limits of the law, so be it.  Let’s make the most of this opportunity as we might not make it the next time. 

Let’s cut the bullcrap on mocking the constitution and playing with citizenship.  In the ordinary basketball fans’ eyes, what’s the difference between naturalized cagers and African imports in the school leagues?  They make games more enjoyable and exciting.  Bottom line, they’re in for the perks, anything else come secondary.  At least in Douthit’s case, he shows effort in adjusting to his “chosen” nation.

And why not put in Arwind Santos and Calvin Abueva on the team.  Arwind can return the choking favor to Renaldo Balkman when Gilas battles Puerto Rico in our group match.  Calvin can invite technicals from other players by riling them.  Who needs imports if Abueva can eject two or three players out of the game.  Advantage Gilas.  Na hala.

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