Bilang naturalized import ng Gilas: Reyes gustong kunin sina Dunigan at Bowles

MANILA, Philippines - Dalawa sa kasalukuyang imports sa 2013 PBA Com­missioner’s Cup ang pinag-iisipan ni Gilas Pilipinas head coach Chot Reyes na sumunod sa yapak ni naturalized Filipino Marcus Douthit.

Ang dalawang ito ay sina Michael Dunigan ng Air21 at Denzel Bowles ng San Mig Coffee.

Pero ayon kay Reyes, medyo matatagalan pa bago ito mangyari dahil unang-una ay hindi pa sumasang-ayon ang mga ito at kinakailangan pa ng pag-apruba ng Kongreso sa kanilang mga citizenship na ang pinaka-maigsi ay isang taon ang itinatagal.

“Even before d Conf began (Air21) coach Franz (Pu­maren) & I already talked about Dunigan as backup naturalized player. Air21 management also agreed, but it needs and act of Congress. There’s a law to be followed, unlike other (countries) where there’s instant citizenship. Here it takes more than a yr,” ani Re­yes sa kanyang Twitter account kahapon.

“So if ever pang next yr na sila ni Denzel B who I’ve also discussed with (Cone),” dagdag pa ni Cone.

Ang 6-foot-9, 244-pound at 23-anyos na si Dunigan, ang leading scorer ng 2013 PBA Com­missioner’s Cup mula sa kanyang 26.3 points kada laro, pangatlo sa rebounding (16.4 rpg) at pang-apat sa shotblocks (2.3 bpg), ay bukas naman sa ideya at oportunidad bagama’t hindi pa ito makakapag-desisyun agad-agad tungkol dito.

“It’s a good idea. I’m sure it’s gonna be a great ho­nor to play for a country that wants you to play for them,” ani Dunigan, na ipinanganak sa Chicago, Illinois. “If there’ll be an offer, I have to go back to the US to talk to my agent and my mom, and see how it plays out.”

Highly-recommended ni Pumaren si Dunigan pa­ra sa Gilas Pilipinas.

“I maybe biased because Mike is my player, pero sa tingin ko he can really be a good addition (sa Gilas Pilipinas),” ani Pumaren. “He’s a good choice for our next naturalized player. Aside from scoring and rebounding, Mike can give the national team other things. May energy siya na infectious sa teammates niya, as you can see in all of our games.”

“Maganda ang ugali nito. Magaling makisama at willing talaga siya to learn,” dagdag pa ni Pumaren. “He knows that he is lacking in experience kaya he ne­ver complains when you give him new tasks.”