THE Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas is in the process of obtaining documents of Zavier Lucero to find out whether he would be able to meet the criteria as a local following his inclusion to the Gilas Pilipinas pool for the FIBA Asia Cup 2025.
SBP executive director Erika Dy said the federation has yet to secure Lucero’s other documents aside from his Philippine passport that could support his eligibility to play for Gilas as a local.
READ Abando, Lucero, RJ, Troy added to Gilas pool for Fiba Asia Cup
Dy added Lucero was a late addition to the Gilas pool in compliance with a deadline set by the FIBA to submit a ‘long list’ where the final 12 players for a tournament will be taken.
“Si Lucero kasi, our problem is he is still in the US,” said Dy at the sidelines of the Philippine Sports Commission general assembly at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium on Tuesday. “We still really haven’t seen his documents.”
“We will figure it out when he comes back. But again, we are still looking at the 12. He is part of the pool now sa extended roster. Hopefully, eligible siya. Pero kung hindi siya eligible, wala naman tayo magagawa.”
Aside from the Magnolia forward, also included in the pool were Rhenz Abando, Troy Rosario, and RJ Abarrientos, although national coach Tim Cone said the four players are only up for consideration for the August joust in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Initially, Dy said Gilas was only set on submitting the same 12-player roster that has been competing for the team since Cone took over, until she convinced Cone to add more names to serve as a buffer in case a player becomes unavailable due to injuries.
At the moment, Kai Sotto has already been ruled out due to an ACL injury, and the spot has been allotted to longtime reserve Japeth Aguilar.
“Ang story niyan is you submit a long list to FIBA. From there mo pipiliin ‘yung 12 mo kapag malapit na ang tournament. Nagsara ‘yun last week. I think it was the 5th. July 5 ata ‘yung last day.
READ SBP checking on Zavier Lucero's FIBA eligibility, says Cone
“Parang tinanong ko si Coach Tim, sure ka ba etong 12 lang ilalagay ko, pag may na-injure diyan. So he started giving names kaya lumabas ‘yung mga pangalan ni Lucero. Sabi ko, ipasok lang natin, bahala na para at least may kutson kahit papaano,” said Dy.
FIBA’s general rule is that a local must be a passport holder of a country before he turns 16, although there have been previous cases that residency of the player was the basis of his FIBA classification. Otherwise, a player is classified as a naturalized player, to which FIBA only allows one per team.
Lucero just finished his second season in the PBA, after playing two seasons with University of the Philippines in the UAAP.
Dy said the only document in SBP's possession is a copy of Lucero’s current Philippine passport.
“Ang hawak ko ngayon is the current passport. He still has to turn in ‘yung passport before 16 if he does have one,” said Dy of Lucero.
Dy admitted there is no assurance that Lucero, born to a Mexican father and Filipina mother in Vallejo, California, will be classified as a local for the national squad since it is all up to FIBA.
“I haven’t talked to him personally. Medyo last-minute addition siya ni coach Tim. We are working out what we can but there’s no guarantee,” said Dy.
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