Douthit, Zheng naturalization up with House

MANILA, Philippines - Barring major hiccups, American Marcus Douthit and Chinese Xiaojing Zheng may end up as naturalized players for future men’s and women’s national basketball teams.

The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas has already initiated the naturalization process as early as August hoping both Douthit and Xiaojing could suit up for the Nationals in this November’s Guangzhou Asian Games.

“House Bills 2307 and 2683 for naturalization of Marcus Douthit (men’s team) and Xiaojing Zheng (women’s team) were filed last Aug. 9 and 16 by the Hon. Roberto V. Puno of the first district of Antipolo City,” said SBP executive director Noli Eala.

Eala said a series of hearings were already set starting on Tuesday at the House of Representatives.

“The hearings would start soon and we’re hoping to facilitate things for Marcus and Zheng to make it to Guangzhou,” he added.

The 6-11 Douthit is already training with Smart Gilas Pilipinas as early as a couple of months ago and should be a vital factor in the Filipinos’ quest of medaling in the quadrennial games.

Smart Gilas is currently in the 4th Asian Basketball Association Club Championship in Haining, China where it is playing Chinese Taipei in the semifinals.

Xiaojing, for her part, has been living and practicing with the women’s squad for more than two years now and could end up playing in Guangzhou should they top the Southeast Asian

Basketball Association women’s championship set in Manila next month.

If not, the Chinese can still be tapped for other future international stints like the Southeast Asian Games in Jakarta, Indonesia next year.

Eala said everything has come into place.

“A dedicated national team, experienced foreign coach, international exposures and now naturalization, the final part of the long term program,” he said.

With Douthit, Smart Gilas may yet get the inside strength it needs as it seeks to top next year’s FIBA-Asia Championship in Beirut, Lebanon in its bid for a berth in the 2012 London Olympics.