House approves Blatche move for naturalization

MANILA, Philippines - The House committee on justice approved yesterday a bill, which seeks to grant Filipino citizenship to NBA player Andray Blatche of the Brooklyn Nets, who is being eyed as the other reinforcement for Gilas Pilipinas in the 2014 FIBA World Cup in Spain in August.

Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Rodel Batocabe made a motion to approve House Bill 3784 filed by Antipolo City Rep. Roberto Puno during the panel’s hearing.

The motion was seconded by Northern Samar Rep. Emil Ong and the measure was passed despite the strong opposition of 1-BAP party-list Rep. Silvestre Bello III.

“We need to rush the passage of the bill to boost our campaign in FIBA World Cup,” said Batocabe.

He said the chamber approved the measure on the second reading late last night.

He said the committee did not act on HB 3783 – also authored by Puno – which seeks to grant Filipino citizenship to Denver Nuggets center Javale McGee, who has been dropped from the list of prospects due to injury.

Puno earlier said he filed the two bills as a hedge in case one of the two players gets injured.

“He (McGee) was not interested anymore that’s why the other bill seeking his naturalization was not approved,” Batocabe said.

The FIBA rules allow each participating country to field one naturalized player in the competition and Gilas Pilipinas has until June 30 to submit its official roster of players.

Bello questioned the move of the committee, chaired by Iloilo Rep. Niel Tupas, over its swift action on the bill.

He said Blatche should first appear before the panel to make sure he was willing to be a naturalized Filipino.

Manuel Pangilinan, president of Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) and chairman of Gilas Pilipinas, is the prime mover of the team’s campaign.

The last time the Philippines played in the FIBA World Championships was in 1978. The country placed second to Iran in the FIBA Asia Championships last year to clinch a berth in the World Cup.