Prospects worth investing

The Gold Coast in Queensland, Australia is famous for surfing.  The place is also made popular by a multi-sport event where international triathlon races are held annually.  Naturally, these events get optimum TV exposure.

Lost in translation is basketball where it takes a backseat to the above mentioned sports and to the Aussie-rules football – rugby.  Games struggle to get TV mileage because basketball is not that popular Down Under, notwithstanding the abundance of really tall people and legitimate NBA players past and present.

The success of the Gilas basketball program prompted a Gold Coast-based family to have their son acquire dual citizenship, anticipating with good reason, their son’s future in Philippine basketball.  Born to an Australian father and a Filipina mother, the kid, who will be turning 14 in February next year, stands 6-8 and has the build to bang bodies.

Ethan Kirkness recently applied for a dual citizenship at the Philippine embassy in Australia.  Upon release of his PH passport, this will qualify Ethan to play for the country, satisfying the FIBA requirement for a player to hold a passport of the country he chooses to represent in official FIBA tournaments before he gets 16 years old.

The Kirkness had for quite some time been following the campaigns of the senior and junior national teams and longs for Ethan to play and represent the country in future international competitions.  They knew that with their kid on the PH team, it increases the chances of winning, considering that we had always been vertically challenged compared to the other basketball heavyweights.

His mother, Dinah Blando, comes from Dumaguete City and stands an above-normal 5-10 for a Filipina.  Michael Kirkness, his father, stands 6 feet flat so it’s no wonder Ethan is standing that tall.  Not yet 14, there is a strong chance that Ethan will hit the 7-foot mark. 

The family visited the country late last year for a relative’s wedding and is seriously considering relocating to the Philippines.  They even visited several schools in Manila but no commitments up to the moment were made.  Michael is willing to find a job or start a business here just to support Ethan’s basketball future. 

Cebu-based schools better take a long, hard look on Ethan’s case.  The mother is Cebuano-speaking and it will be advantageous to both parties if ever Ethan’s family decides to move here.  Yes, resources will be spent but in the long run will be beneficial.  It’s a win-win situation.  It’s about time for someone to fill the large shoes long vacated by Greg Slaughter and June Mar Fajardo.  And talking about shoe sizes, Ethan wears size 18 sneakers.

Another tall 15-year-old with a Visayan-speaking mother has also shown interest in playing for the national team.  He held a PH passport since he was 2 years old and that qualifies him with the FIBA requirements.

United Kingdom based AJ Edu is born to a Nigerian father Ayotunde, and mother Josie who hails from Surigao.  Like his father, he stands 6-8 and already has solid basketball fundamentals as he had been playing organized ball since the age of 7.

His mother wants AJ to play with Gilas but made it clear though that a college basketball stint in the Philippines is out of the equation.  They are targeting a US NCAA collegiate scholarship with the hopes of one day landing in the NBA.

The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas is presented with two prospects willing to play for flag and country.  One is even willing to relocate and risk bullets magically appearing inside their luggage.  These two will be welcome additions to the national pool. 

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Talking about magic, it has gone into uncontrolled situations yet authorities are still downplaying the matter.  With morons in the palace and authorities issuing ridiculous statements, bullets are merrily finding their way inside suitcases and carry-on bags of unsuspecting victims.  And who was that media personality who said that the NAIA should even be commended for being the best bullet-detecting airport in the world.  Are they freaking serious?  It’s not “lag-lag bala” anymore.  Their pronouncements make them “lag-lag utak.”