TIM Cone confirmed on Sunday that Bennie Boatwright has agreed to become the next Gilas Pilipinas naturalized player following conversations between his camp and the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas.
Cone said he has not spoken to Boatwright but has been told about the latest development, and the Gilas coach is looking forward to having the former San Miguel import in the national team especially because he was the one who asked that he be brought on board.
READ His SMB teammates think Boatwright the 'right fit' for Gilas
Cone said SBP executive director Erika Dy and Gilas Pilipinas team manager Richard Del Rosario have been speaking with Boatwright’s camp about the process.
Cone said the 6-foot-10 Boatwright is a fit for Gilas and has the traits that current naturalized player Justin Brownlee, only taller.
“I was the one who asked for him,” said Cone on the sidelines of Barangay Ginebra’s win over Magnolia in the PBA Philippine Cup on Easter Sunday. “I think he is a tremendous talent. He has great size. And he can play in and out.”
“He is very versatile. Kinda reminds me of a young Justin, just three or four inches taller,” said Cone.
Cone, however, tempered expectations, saying the process of Boatwright’s naturalization will take time. Just like Brownlee, naturalization will go through the House of Representatives and the Senate before it becomes a law.
“I have not been part of the conversation in terms of speaking to him and his agents. I’m hearing everything third party. Richard is the one speaking to him,” said Cone.
“But as far as I know, we have an agreement and he is already submitting papers to (get) naturalized,” said Cone.
Cone also emphasized that Boatwright will serve as back-up to Brownlee in the event that his naturalization is approved.
“This could be a process. It is usually a long process – three, four, maybe eight months. We don’t know. It took Justin a long time to get his. But it’s just something else that he was excited about doing it,” said Cone.
“But without a doubt, this is written in stone right now. Justin is our guy. And Bennie is going to be his back-up, just like Justin was the back-up to Jordan Clarkson in the World Cup. So we are going with that at the moment. But again, I haven’t talked to him personally about it. But coach Richard has. He has also talked to his agent. Him and Erika Dy are the two that are working on that,” said Cone.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
