GILAS Pilipinas welcomed the enactment of the measure granting Philippine citizenship to basketball player Bennie Boatwright III, although the development came too late for the national team’s preparations for the Asian Games.
Gilas head coach Tim Cone said the team was pleased with Boatwright’s naturalization but are currently focused on its campaign in the upcoming Asian Games.
If ever Boatwright completes all the needed documents, he could be called up for the upcoming window of the 2027 FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers this November.
“We’re locked into the Asian Games right now. We haven’t begun to think about the November window yet,” Cone told Fastbreak in a Viber message on Thursday.
Palace Press Officer Atty. Claire Castro told Bilyonaryo News Channel’s Ivy Reyes that Republic Act No. 12323 granting Philippine citizenship to Boatwright became law after President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. did not act on them within the constitutionally prescribed period since it was trasmitted by the Congress on July 30, 2026.
Boatwright, a 27-year-old, 6-foot-10 forward from Los Angeles, has been playing as an import for the San Miguel Beermen in the PBA and has emerged as a candidate for Gilas Pilipinas’ naturalized-player spot.
Boatwright’s naturalization had been closely monitored by the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas as the federation hoped to make him available for Gilas Pilipinas.
However, the enactment of the law does not immediately completed Boatwright’s naturalization process.
He must still fulfill the required post-naturalization procedures, including taking his oath of allegiance and securing the necessary certificate from the Bureau of Immigration before he can proceed with his application for a Philippine passport.
The development comes too late for Boatwright to join Gilas in the upcoming Asian Games, with SBP chair Erika Dy previously said that the mandatory publication period required before the Immigration can issue the naturalization certificate would prevent him from completing the process in time.
Boatwright was earlier included in Gilas’ initial pool for the 2026 Asian Games, but Cone subsequently ruled him out because his documents were not completed on schedule.
The Philippines is set to defend its men’s basketball gold medal in the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan with the basketball tournament scheduled from Sept. 10 to 20. (Adrian Co)
