Exceptions to the rule

There were at least 16 naturalized players listed in rosters at the recent FIBA World Cup with Gilas’ Jordan Clarkson and China’s Kyle Anderson among the few exceptions as “imports” with blood lineage to the countries they represented. In FIFA, a player may be enlisted by a country where he or she wasn’t born for as long as a biological connection is traceable down to a grandparent/parent or a five-year residence is established from the age of 18. In FIBA, a foreign-born player may be enlisted without a biological connection and is eligible as soon as he or she is issued a passport but only one is allowed per team. Exceptions are foreign-born players who are issued a passport before turning 16 and foreign-born players with a relatively long history of residence, with or without a biological connection.

Clarkson’s case is unique in that he was issued a Philippine passport after turning 16 and was not naturalized by Philippine law. Because of his Filipino heritage, Clarkson is entitled to a Philippine passport without giving up his American status as a dual citizen. FIBA, however, recognizes Clarkson as naturalized under its eligibility rule. If Clarkson lived in the Philippines for an extended period or went to a Filipino school or played in a Filipino league, FIBA would probably reclassify him as a local regardless of his Filipino lineage. SBP has appealed for Clarkson’s reclassification but FIBA is standing firm on its decision. Justin Brownlee may even be reclassified a local because he has lived in the Philippines since 2016 before FIBA changes its mind on Clarkson.

Let’s recap who were some of the FIBA World Cup naturalized players. Jordan’s recruit was TNT import Rondae Hollis Jefferson, born in Pennsylvania. He received his Jordan passport two months before the FIBA World Cup began. Nine-year NBA veteran Kyle Anderson (renamed Li Kaier) was born in New Jersey and is China’s first-ever naturalized basketball player. Like Jefferson, he was naturalized two months before the FIBA World Cup. Anderson’s great grandfather was Chinese with roots in Shenzhen. Thomas Walkup was born in Texas and received his Greek passport via an “express procedure” or a decree signed by the Minister of Interior Makis Voridis and President Katerina Sakellarnopoulou. Slovenia brought in 7-foot Mike Tobey of New York. Tobey became a Slovenian citizen in 2021 in time to play in the Tokyo Olympics. Montenegro signed up Kendrick Perry of Florida while Georgia paraded Thad McFadden of Michigan.

Lebanon’s naturalized player was NBA veteran Omari a, born in Cleveland. He acquired Lebanese citizenship last April 18 and joined the Cedars in the FIBA World Cup. South Sudan’s import was six-foot Carlik Jones, born in Akron, Ohio and a two-year NBA veteran. Japan had several naturalized players to choose from and finally decided on Josh Hawkinson over Nick Fazekas and Luke Evans. Hawkinson was born in Seattle and became a Japanese citizen last February. In golfer Yuka Saso’s case, she had to give up her Philippine citizenship because the Japanese government insisted. Did Hawkinson surrender his American citizenship?

Australia’s import was Matisse Thybulle, born in Arizona. He lived seven years in Australia as a boy. Thybulle is a four-year NBA veteran. Puerto Rico enlisted former PBA import John Holland, born in New York. Holland’s mother is of Puerto Rican descent. He has played on the Puerto Rican national squad since 2011. Egypt paraded 6-11 Patrick Gardner, born in New York. He received his Egyptian passport this year.

In the Philippines, blood lineage takes precedence over country of birth or jus sanguinis over jus soli with regard to affirming citizenship. Shouldn’t eligibility rules in sports follow national policies when it comes to deciding if an athlete is naturalized or not? Otherwise, it creates confusion. A sports federation has no legal right to overrule the law or the Constitution of a country.