BENNIE Boatwright will have little time to prepare when he makes his Gilas Pilipinas debut in the November window of the FIBA Basketball World Cup Asian Qualifiers.
Gilas coach Tim Cone said the former San Miguel import will rendezvous with Gilas in its training camp in Malaysia just days before the crunch qualifiers against Syria on November 27 and Iran on November 29.
Boatwright secured his Philippine passport one month before the November window, making him a naturalized citizen that is eligible to reinforce Gilas under FIBA rules.
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Members of Gilas will leave for Malaysia either on the 19th or the 20th but Cone said Boatwright’s arrival will be a little late due to his commitments with his mother ballclub Fujian in China's pro league.
“We’re trying to get Bennie to come in earlier, but at this point, we can’t. China (ballclub) is still holding him. [Under] FIBA [rules], you only have to be released three days before the actual first game,” said Cone on Tuesday.
“Right now, he is due to come in and meet us on the 23rd,” said Cone.
Cone hopes Boatwright would get acclimated to the schemes of Gilas in the three full days before their first game against Syria.
“That’s tough because he hasn’t been with us, hasn’t had any time at all. We’re going to have to figure out a way to make him effective within the system and try to tweak it so we can get him effective. And that’s always difficult to do.
“But he is a talented guy. He’s going to lend a lot of talent to the team and size, perimeter shooting. He is a welcome addition,” said Cone.
Unlike Justin Brownlee who will sit out the November window due to health issues, Boatwright will need a period of adjustment with Gilas.
“We are certainly going to miss Justin. However, because Justin knows what to do, that’s going to be the difference. Bennie is going to maybe struggle a little bit in what he’s supposed to do and how he’s supposed to do it.
"But we’re hoping his talent will win out on that,” said Cone.
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