Naturalization a long process

SBP executive director Noli Eala said yesterday the process of naturalizing a player to become eligible for the national team will likely take a legislative route of 10 months to a year but expressed optimism that with candidate C. J. Giles in the waiting line, no hitches will stall the process.

Eala explained that naturalization may be done through judicial, administrative or legislative means.

“We’ve studied the options and we’ll probably take the legislative route, if at all,” said Eala. “That means a law will be enacted to legalize the naturalization. We hope in the Lower House, Rep. Robbie Puno will sponsor the bill and in the Upper House, either Sen. Chiz Escudero or Sen. Kiko Pangilinan or both.”

Recruiting naturalized players for a national team is a widely-accepted practice in FIBA tournaments. FIBA previously allowed two naturalized players a team but has now set a limit of one. No less than the US team has enlisted naturalized players, including Nigerian Hakeem Olajuwon who played on the 1996 Olympic gold medal squad. Spain, Australia, Japan, Lebanon, Jordan, France, Russia and Germany are among other countries with a history of naturalized players in their national basketball teams.

Giles, 23, is a 6-10, 220-pound former University of Kansas and Oregon State forward-center who played four pre-season games with the Los Angeles Lakers last October. He was invited by Smart-Gilas coach Rajko Toroman to attend the developmental squad’s training camp in Las Vegas last April and impressed the staff with his skills. With an 88-inch wingspan, Giles has the length to dominate under the boards.

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Giles saw action for Smart-Gilas at the FIBA-Asia Champions Cup in Jakarta two weeks ago. He averaged 18.8 points, 13.2 rebounds and 2.3 blocked shots in six games as the Philippine team took fifth place. Giles also played in Smart-Gilas’ four exhibition games with the Japanese national team in Tokyo last week.

Smart-Gilas returned home from Tokyo last Sunday. Players are reporting back to their mother teams until Toroman reopens training camp in September. Giles was scheduled to leave for Seattle, his hometown, yesterday.

Eala said Giles is “all sold about becoming Filipino” and has the heart of a Pinoy.

“During the Champions Cup, C. J. suffered a hyperextended right knee but he chose to play even if he didn’t have to,” said Eala. “No doubt, he’s talented. He averaged big numbers for us with one good knee in Jakarta. He’s quick, he can jump. Maybe, he’ll need to work more on his post moves. What we like about him is his fighting heart. Off the court, he’s coachable. He gets along with the guys. When he’s not on the floor, C. J. is our No. 1 cheerleader.”

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Eala said Giles himself said he has found a new home.

“C. J. wants to bring over his brother who’s 6-7 and 21 years old,” said Eala. “He has a two-year-old son living with the boy’s mother in Kansas. He told me he’s never felt more welcome anywhere in the world and he’d like to stay on. He’s found out a lot of things about himself in his short stint with us, his social qualities in particular.”

Eala said Giles has shown patience in learning Toroman’s system.

“In the US, C. J. was just one of the players on the bench but with us, he’s the go-to guy with a bigger role to play,” said Eala. “We want a three-year commitment from him and he thinks after three years, it’ll be just right for him to try out again for the NBA.”

Eala said Giles has been invited to play at the Toronto, Orlando and the Lakers summer camps. He was also courted by several Middle East teams during the recent Champions Cup but stayed loyal to Smart-Gilas.

During the Tokyo exhibitions, Giles played sparingly in the last two games because of a pulled hamstring.

“Despite the pain, C. J. asked to be fielded in which really shows his desire to help,” said Eala. “Coach Rajko thinks he is still a little out of the system but definitely he boosts the team’s performance when he’s on the floor.”

Eala said Smart-Gilas learned a lot in the last six months. “Focus, concentration, conditioning and toughness still need to be improved,” he added. “But overall, our first six months has been a flying start for the program. The team has grown up so fast in the last six months.”