Sports columnist Quinito Henson reported that multiple players from the Ivory Coast and Dominican Republic teams bound for the 2023 FIBA World Cup were born in countries other than their own.
The experienced anchor initially stated this during his appearance on One News’ Power and Play program on Saturday morning before later tweeting about it.
“May pasabog tayo kanina Kom Noli Power & Play! 9 Ivory Coast players were born in countries outside Ivory Coast. Did they get their passports before 16? Each of them joined team at least 22!” Henson said.
“Dom Rep has 5 US-born players, did they get passports before 16? Bakit tayo lang dinidiin?” added the long-time The Philippine Star sports columnist.
May pasabog tayo kanina Kom Noli Power & Play! 9 Ivory Coast players were born in countries outside Ivory Coast—did they get their passports before 16? Each of them joined team at least 22! Dom Rep has 5 US-born players, did they get passports before 16? Bakit tayo lang dinidiin?
— Quinito Henson (@TheDeanQuinito) August 19, 2023
Ivory Coast faced an 85-62 defeat against the Gilas Pilipinas in their friendly game on Friday night. Additionally, the Dominican Republic is among the Philippine team’s opponents in the FIBA World Cup group stage.
FIBA maintains strict guidelines for half-foreign players, requiring them to obtain a passport for the country they wish to play for before the age of 16 in order to be classified as local players.
The global basketball organization declined to allow Filipino-American guard Jordan Clarkson to play as a local for Gilas Pilipinas since he acquired his Philippine passport after turning 16 years old.
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