GILAS Pilipinas head coach Tim Cone remains hopeful that Bennie Boatwright can complete his naturalization process in time for the 2026 Asian Games set in Aichi, Nagoya, Japan.
The Philippines will be defending the men’s basketball crown it won in 2023 in Hanzhou, China.
The Asian Games men’s basketball gold was the country’s first championship since the country last won it in the 1962 edition in Jakarta.
“We’re still awaiting the completion of his naturalization,” Cone told The Manila Times regarding Boatwright’s naturalization status.
Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) executive director Erika Dy said recently that the federation is still awaiting for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to sign House Bill 6639 and make it into law.
Cone said once Boatwright’s status gets clarity and finalized, they will be able to make the assessment on Gilas Pilipinas.
“We hope [it] will be finished soon. After that we’ll assess where we are and what needs to be done,” Cone said.
The 6’10” Boatwright is expected to play a major role for Gilas Pilipinas as he can pair with another naturalized player, Justin Brownlee, in the Asian Games which will be held from Sept. 19 to Oct. 4.
The Philippines has just concluded its Window 3 campaign in the FIBA World Cup 2027 Asian Qualifiers stint where Gilas Pilipinas lost its two road games against New Zealand and Australia.
Despite dropping four straight games dating back to the two games Gilas Pilipinas lost in the second window, the Philippines has earned a spot in the second round.
The Philippines is bunched in Group E for the second round of the qualifiers along with Australia, New Zealand, Iran, Jordan and Syria.
