THE midterm elections obviously prolonged the process for the naturalization of Gilas Pilipinas prospect Benny Boatwright.
Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas Executive Director Erika Dy made the admission since Congress is currently on a break to give way to the just-concluded national polls.
The former San Miguel import’s naturalization case has yet to fully roll on since former Senator Sonny Angara filed Senate Bill No. 2646 for Boatwright to become the next naturalized player for the men’s national team.
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The bill was filed last year yet.
“Obviously its election time, so Congress is out of session. And we need the Committee on Justice to convene in order to hear his naturalization case,” said Dy. “And I don’t think that’s going to happen until at the earliest would be June.”
SBP President Al S. Panlilio said the federation has no clue as to when the hearing will resume, though he said committees in both the House and Senate won’t be created until aftert the State of the Nation address by July.
“I don’t know how soon it could happen, because if they get elected in May, the next session starts maybe in June or July before the State of the Nation of the President before they create the committees, before they call the hearings,” Panlilio noted.
“(But) we’re not remiss in following it up but the problem is the process that is happening now.”
Added Dy, "I think the reasonable expectation on the time period is after the SONA pa mahahain yung kanyang naturalization process."
As things stand now, Justin Brownlee and Ange Kouame are the current naturalized players for Gilas, which is set to compete in the FIBA Asia Cup three months from now in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Panlilio isn’t certain if Boatwright’s naturalization papers would be able to make it in time given the short period of preparation.
“I don’t know if we’re gonna be in the August time frame. I don’t know. But we will continue to push,” said SBP chief.
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