Appeal to Fiba

In this year’s Christmas Contest, we asked each entry to submit an essay appealing to FIBA to consider the eligibility of Fil-foreigners to play for the Philippine national team as locals, not as naturalized citizens, regardless of when they were issued their Philippine passports for as long as their Filipino heritage is authenticated.

In last Sunday’s column, we published the essays of first prize winner Arnold Liwanag of Sta. Maria, Bulacan and second prize winner Esmeraldo Guillermo of Malinta, Valenzuela City. Here are a few more essays:

From third prize winner Christianzen Libed of Bacoor, Cavite – “I’m just a delivery food rider in the Philippines and may not be good in English but I’m an avid basketball fan. I know that you are just trying to promote building of home-grown players, which is why you require dual citizens to have a passport at least at the age of 16 of the country of choice they wish to play for. But can you please make an exception or tweak the rules for others to adjust and be able to play and represent their country? I love basketball and I love to see the likes of Jordan Clarkson and other Fil-foreign players with Filipino bloodline to represent my country.”

From fourth prize winner Rey Paez of Alaminos, Pangasinan – “The Philippines and Lithuania are the two countries considered as the two most basketball-crazy nations in the world, even as the Philippines holds the distinction of being the most passionate and having the most supportive fans despite being a favorite ‘whipping boy’ of basketball giant nations. You could just imagine the added magnitude to this passion and support if the Philippines is at par with the best of the best in the world by being able to assemble a truly competitive team.

“There is no denying that the present crop of local Filipino players is not yet up to the challenge (we are near there, tough) and one bright spot being looked at to improve the Philippines’ chances of faring well in international competitions is by tapping the services of Fil-foreigners – a lot of whom are now showing tremendous ability in the schools or clubs they are playing for outside the Philippines.

“Just imagine an unrestricted 2023 Gilas team with Jordan Clarkson, Jaleen Green, Kemaka Hepa, Remy Martin, Cedric Barefield and Dwight Ramos to bolster eligibles A. J. Edu, Kai Sotto, Ricci Rivero, Thirdy Ravena, Bobby Ray Parks, etc. and results would be a record-setting attendance for FIBA games never imagined to happen.

“Rectifying FIBA rules on eligibility of players and allowing a Fil-foreign player or any player of mixed blood from any nation as long as he has a proven identity of having a parental lineage from the country he will be representing will not only brighten the hopes and aspirations of Pinoy fans but followers of other countries as well and only then you will witness a more competitive and balanced FIBA competition since definitely, Asian teams will gain a lot of ground from their American and European counterparts so let’s do it, FIBA.”

From fifth prize winner Ariel Clarito of Pinaglabanan, San Juan – “It’s not the fault of Elizabeth Santos Hermosa that, in the desire for a better life, she sought greener pastures in a land distant from her roots and neither is it the fault of her son Christian Standhardinger to be bi-racial and raised in Germany which is as much his home as the Philippines. It is no one’s fault and it should not even be considered a fault to begin with. Millions of Filipinos leave the country not because they want to but because they have to and in the process, they are forced to deal with the struggles of being away from loved ones, of getting disenfranchised from the pursuit of nation-building, of conclusively finding their true identity. FIBA, as the governing body of a sport that promotes inclusiveness, must allow properly-documented Filipinos with foreign lineage to represent the Philippines as locals in FIBA-sanctioned competitions. Doing so would be a celebration of the mandate of FIBA and it would help Fil-foreigners and multi-racial basketball players the world over to finally find countries they can call their true home.”