Justin Brownlee can’t wait to get into the PH red-white-and-blue and represent. —PBA Images
MANILA, Philippines–Justin Brownlee is committed to help out Gilas Pilipinas. Now if only someone could get his naturalization process running.
Sen. Francis Tolentino bared that Brownlee, along with TNT reinforcement Cameron Oliver—another American being eyed to backstop the national cage program—have yet to file their application to become a naturalized Filipino.
“We’ve been hearing of Justin Brownlee, being naturalized… Cam Oliver [also] … Lo and behold—us at the Justice Committee, we’re ready to conduct a hearing—but nothing has been filed,” Tolentino said during the deliberation of the proposed budget for the Philippine Sports Commission last Monday.
“Not a single page of paper that would support, that would trigger the naturalization proceedings. I have here the checklist of requirements for naturalization —not even a letter of intent, not even an (National Bureau of Investigation) clearance, police clearance, barangay clearance. So how can we start?” he added.
Pressed for comment, Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas president Al S. Panilio said in a message to the Inquirer that “[w]e are pushing for naturalization. We are in the process of completing all required documents.”
The SBP, in a meeting held Sept. 12, sought the assistance of the Senate and the Congress in its bid to naturalize Brownlee and Oliver for future Gilas campaigns.
Panlilio, together with program director and head coach Chot Reyes, said that the two Americans are being eyed to be part of a stable of naturalized players to backstop Gilas, if possible, as early as November.
Jordan Clarkson was the Philippines’ naturalized player in the last window of the Fiba World Cup Asian Qualifiers, which Gilas is using to prepare for the global showcase here next year.
The Philippines is set to resume its buildup next month. The Nationals are girding for matches against Jordan and Saudi Arabia without Clarkson, who will be neck-deep in his duties with his NBA club Utah Jazz by then.
That leaves Ange Kouame, the Ateneo center and the UAAP’s reigning Most Valuable Player, as the only readily available replacement for Clarkson.
The SBP had said that Brownlee already completed his documentary requirements, while Oliver has begun working on his.
However, Monday’s development seems to refute that.
PBA chair Ricky Vargas, who was present during the session, said that he is not aware that no applications have been made, and was apologetic to Sen. Tolentino, who leads a committee which handles naturalization bills.
“And we’re sorry that we have been talking about it in the press. We apologize for that. We will align with you, Senator,” said Vargas, a former vice chair of the SBP.
Sonny Barrios, the SBP’s executive director and spokesperson for all things World Cup, was just as remorseful, vowing to get to the bottom of the issue and finally jumpstart the process.
“Last Monday practice, team manager Butch Antonio talked to Justin Brownlee who said that he has yet to be asked to submit his papers,” he said.
“Between then and now, we’re in the process of gathering those documents. I’ll remind … Sir Butch, the team manager, to submit to you whatever they have so far.”
It remains to be seen how quickly the legislative process would take. The bid to naturalize Marcus Douthit, Andray Blatche, and Kouame all took months.
“The Senate Committee on Justice will facilitate the hearing, and I couldn’t conduct the hearing without the papers,” said Tolentino. “If you’re still really serious with pursuing that, we should expect the papers within this month or earlier so that by November, we’re done, God-willing.”
“We’re here to expedite (the process),” said Sen. Bong Go, who chairs the Committee on Sports.