Christmas contest back with a bang

Christmas is just around the corner and that means it’s time to launch our yearly contest. We’ve lined up wonderful prizes for our winners and we’ll make it easy for you to join. Simply send your answers to [email protected] on email or @TheDeanQuinito on twitter or @therealdeanquinito on Instagram. No need to physically bring your hard copy entries to The Philippine Star office although that option is still available.

We’ll choose 20 winners. Every entry must contain your name, address, age, occupation or employment (if student, state your course, year, school) and contact details (cellphone number, preferably for easy contact). If you miss out on any of those details, the entry will be disqualified.

Over the past several years, we’ve been able to solicit cash donations and lots of gift items so that our winners have carted away sacks-full of presents. This year won’t be any different. We’ll try to make your Christmas even more memorable as a way of giving thanks for your patronage to our Sports Section.

Each entry must answer the following questions correctly: 1. Name the three bowlers who were recently inducted into the Philippine Sports Hall of Fame. 2. Who is FIBA’s global ambassador for the 2019 World Cup? (Hint: It’s not Yao Ming although the Chinese legend will be the “face” of the competition since the games are scheduled in China.) 3. What were the three franchises that Tim Cone piloted to become the PBA’s winningest coach with 21 total championships?

Additionally, each entry must contain a short essay appealing to FIBA to consider Fil-foreigners with authenticated Filipino lineage to play for the Philippine team as locals, not as naturalized citizens regardless of when they were issued their Philippine passports. The essay must be limited to five sentences. 

Under FIBA rules, a dual citizen is eligible to play for one country of his or her choice only if the passport was issued before turning 16. But the restriction disenfranchises Fil-foreigners like Stanley Pringle, Christian Standhardinger, Chris Newsome, Jordan Clarkson and others similarly situated from playing for the Philippines as locals since they received their Philippine passports after turning 16. Because of the FIBA rule, Pringle and company may suit up for the Philippines only as naturalized players. 

It appears that FIBA may allow exceptions for dual citizens who’ve established long years of residency in the country they intend to play for. However, under Philippine law, a dual citizen has every right to represent the country of his or her choice, in this case, the Philippines, in any way as a full-fledged Filipino. A dual citizen must be born to a Filipino parent.  

This essay is a challenge to our readers but it’s also a vehicle to reach out to FIBA. We hope your voice will be heard by FIBA’s policy decision-makers.  It’s an appeal for understanding of the Filipino’s unique characteristic as a “global” citizen.

Send in your entries right away. Deadline is Friday, Dec. 14, with a cut-off of 5 p.m. We’ll announce the winners on Wednesday, Dec. 19, in this column and we’ll give away the prizes on Sunday, Dec. 23, at a designated location to be announced. Hurry, it’s not only your chance to win prizes but also your opportunity to be heard in appealing to FIBA in behalf of Fil-foreign players.