By REYNALD MAGALLON
The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) President Al Panlilio felt the federation has found ‘the right guy’ in San Miguel Beer import Bennie Boatwright to become the next Gilas Pilipinas naturalized player and one of the foundations of the program in the future.
Panlilio finally met Boatwright in a meeting that was also joined by SBP executive director Erika Dy, Gilas head coach Tim Cone and team manager Richard Del Rosario on Saturday, April 20, at Fairways Grill, Manila Golf and Country Club in Makati.
“It was a very pleasant lunch, kwentuhan, me just finding out who he is, how he is; it was very relaxed, he even tried halo-halo. Bennie is very mild-mannered, maamo yung character niya, very respectable,” said Panlilio about Boatwright who was looking good on his blue Gilas Pilipinas jacket.
Panlilio also relayed his initial impressions to SBP chairman emeritus Manny V. Pangilinan and SBP vice president Ricky P. Vargas, telling them in a text message, “It seems we have the right guy.”
It was also in the meeting where the long and grueling process of naturalization was explained to Boatwright to which the 6-foot-10 sweet shooting big man responded with affirmation that he would willingly return to the country to appear before the House of Representatives and the Senate – the same process current naturalized players Justin Brownlee and Ange Kouame treaded to become a Filipino.
While Cone already stressed that it would still be Brownlee who will become the first choice for Gilas especially in the Olympic Qualifying Tournament in July, the addition of Boatwright to the pool of naturalized players give the national team enough flexibility heading into the FIBA World Cup in Qatar.
Of course, the main goal for Gilas is to become the best placed Asian team in the global showpiece to get a direct ticket to the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028 – a prospect that also excites Boatwright according to Panlilio.
“It’s a dream for him. He has lived in LA for most part of his life, Bennie told us, and his family is still there,” said
Panlilio who also shared that the federation is also currently working on Boatwright’s calendar in effort to ease the naturalization process.
“We’re working on his calendar,” Panlilio said. “But he is really very excited.”
