Garcia reiterates May 30 deadline

MANILA, Philippines - Philippine Sports Commission chairman and the country’s Asian Games chief of mission Richie Garcia said the other day a list of 33 athletes and officials comprising the Gilas basketball delegation was submitted to the Incheon organizers last April 30 as he reminded the SBP of the May 30 deadline to turn in naturalized player Andray Blatche’s Philippine passport in compliance with the eligibility rules of the quadrennial event.

Gilas coach Chot Reyes named 19 players for the Asian Games pool – Jimmy Alapag, L. A. Tenorio, Jeff Chan, Jayson Castro, Gary David, Larry Fonacier, Ranidel de Ocampo, Gabe Norwood, JuneMar Fajardo, Japeth Aguilar, Marc Pingris, Marcus Douthit, Beau Belga, Jared Dillinger, Paul Lee, Blatche, Jay Washington and cadet players Garvo Lanete and Matt Ganuelas. The lineup will be trimmed to 12 by the Asian Games next deadline in the last week of June.

Garcia said there was no limit as to the number of players in the initial lineup. “From what I understand, it could’ve been 24 or even 30,” said Garcia. “The next deadline is May 30 which is actually an extension for teams to submit the passport numbers and photos of the athletes and delegates. Then, in the last week of June, there is a new deadline to trim the team to 12 athletes. On Aug. 15, lineups will be finalized by name. A team may make one or two changes as necessary and with justification, like a medical reason, on that day but replacements may only come from the lineup previously submitted on April 30.”

Garcia said he is aware of Blatche’s case. The Brooklyn Nets center’s naturalization is pending before the Senate. On Monday, a final hearing has been set for passage of the bill sponsored by Sen. Sonny Angara. If the bill is approved, it will be up to President Aquino to hasten the naturalization process by signing it into law. If the President chooses not to sign, it will lapse into law within 30 days. After approval by legislation, publication is required within 15 days. The President’s early approval with his signature is critical to beat the deadline of May 30. If it is allowed to just lapse into law, Blatche’s naturalization will come after the deadline.

“At the moment, we are still on schedule to make the May 30 deadline but early approval by the Senate is crucial,” said Garcia. SBP deputy executive director Bernie Atienza said once Blatche’s naturalization is passed by law, his passport will be immediately processed.

“We’re keeping track of the days,” said Atienza. “The time element is critical. We’re familiar with the Asian Games requirements in terms of travel documents for eligibility. We are in close contact with the POC-PSC task force for accreditation. We know that 15 days before the start of the competition, the lineup must be reduced to 12 players.”

Aside from the 19 athletes, the SBP submitted 14 names of officials for accreditation. The officials are Reyes, assistant coaches Norman Black, Josh Reyes, Joseph Uichico, Nash Racela and Ryan Gregorio, Castro, Jomar Aseron, Rogelio Tulabot, Yvette Ruiz, Butch Antonio, Andrew The, SBP executive director Sonny Barrios and SBP president Manny V. Pangilinan.

POC first vice president Joey Romasanta said he recently attended a meeting in Myanmar to take up issues involving preparations for the Asian Games in Incheon on Sept. 19-Oct. 4. He confirmed that the athletes whose names were submitted to the Asiad organizers last April 30 have been given accreditation numbers.

“That includes Blatche,” said Romasanta. “In our list, we put a note that Blatche’s passport is in process and to follow. His name was accepted by the organizers. In our meeting, we were informed that Incheon is ready to stage the Asian Games even now. The early deadlines to submit the names of athletes were set particularly for team sports because of draw purposes. The Olympic Council of Asia is aware of the deadlines.”

Romasanta said the Senate approval is critical to beat the deadline. “After it is passed by the Senate, the consolidated bill will be brought up to the President,” he said. “The President has 30 days within which to sign it into law or veto it. Without his signature, it will lapse into law in 30 days. But we see no reason why the President won’t sign it. We need his signature to speed up the process because of the coming deadline.”

Romasanta said at the Asian Games in Guangzhou in 2010, Gilas made two late switches in the 12-man lineup as coach Rajko Toroman took in Marcio Lassiter and Chris Lutz to replace Dylan Ababou and Aldrech Ramos. “Marcio and Chris went to China with visas on their passports but Dylan and Aldrech travelled with their accreditation passes which were their visas,” recalled Romasanta. “When Marcio and Chris were approved, Dylan and Aldrech returned their accreditation passes so technically, they had no visas in China. It became a problem when we checked in at our hotel and the front desk called in the police because Dylan and Aldrech had no visas on their passports. So Moying (Martelino), through his contacts in FIBA Asia, had to borrow the returned accreditation passes of Dylan and Aldrech so they could check in at the hotel. The passes had to be given back to the organizers but we anticipated a problem with immigration in departing because Dylan and Aldrech would be questioned as their passports had no visas. Luckily, Moying convinced the organizers to allow Dylan and Aldrech to keep their accreditation passes. We’re very fortunate Moying finds ways to pull us out of tough situations.”