CHICAGO - While leading San Miguel Beer to the PBA Commissioner's Cup title last February 2024, Bennie Boatwright was a dazzling portrait of a ruthlessly consistent double-double machine,
Averaging 30.3 points, 12 rebounds and 3.5 assists per in 13 games, Boatwright hit 57.5 percent from 2 and a high 35.1 percent from 3 while also anchoring the defense during the Beermen's glorious run.
Weeks later in March that same year, the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) announced that the former USC Trojan had agreed to be naturalized as a Filipino, a process that quickly went into motion with when then Senator Sonny Angara filed Senate Bill 2646.
READ SBP sees delays in Boatwright's naturalization
Unfortunately, due to what Gilas Pilipinas coach Tim Cone described in a press conference as "issues with the government," Boatwright's naturalization "got put on the back burner and he's not eligible yet."
Soon after, something more serious than a paperwork glitch put the entire naturalization plan on hold due to an upcoming midterm elections plus the unexpected news that the 6-foot-10, 235-lb power forward had undergone surgery to repair a ruptured Achilles.
More than a full year since the reported medical procedure, nothing has been heard about Boatwright.
UNTIL TWO DAYS AGO.
Per multiple sources, Boatwright has inked an agreement to play in Taiwan. The deal is reportedly non-guaranteed as the team he is potentially joining is obviously still trying to ascertain his effectiveness and skill level following a months-long layoff.
After his PBA stint, Boatwright played for the Shanxi Loongs in the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) where foreign imports can fetch between $1 million to a max of $5 million a year.
Nuno Pedroso, who is Boatwright's agent representation in Europe, told me via text message that he is "not involved in the (Taiwan) deal." In the US market, Boatwright is represented by Sam Permut of Roc Nation whose NBA clients include LaMelo Ball of the Charlotte Hornets in the NBA.
Attempts to reach Boatwright's Asian market agent were unsuccessful. Similar feelers sent to get hold of the Fil-Am agent broker who delivered him to San Miguel were also fruitless.
The Taiwan League runs from late October to mid-June, which clearly overlaps with the PBA's schedule and impedes Bennie from reprising his role as San Miguel's Commissioner's Cup import.
BUT BIGGER, MORE IMPORTANT ISSUES LOOM.
After Boatwright's catastrophic injury, is the SBP still keen on moving forward with the naturalization plan or is the federation switching into a wait-and-see mode?
If so, who will now champion the cudgels of Senate Bill 2646 after Senator Angara's flight from the Senate to the Depart of Education.
Now age 29, is Boatwright still as enthused at the idea of becoming a naturalized Filipino or has his goals pivoted in a way where he'd rather make the most money
as an import rather than being tied to national team duties that pay less?
Imports of Bennie's caliber fetch a pay scale of $35,000 to $40,000 a month in Taiwan. If he plays well and proves he hasn't been diminished by the busted Achilles, he can ply his trade elsewhere for a richer bounty.
In contrast, naturalized players typically get an up front signing bonus plus a pay of at least $20,000 a month per engagement, a FIBA-accredited agent told me.
What would Bennie Boatwright do?
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