Slaughter pinayagan ng FIBA na maglaro sa Team Pilipinas

WALA nang makapipigil pa sa paglalaro ni Greg Slaughter para sa pambansang koponan matapos itong payagan ng International Basketball Federation o FIBA para sa susunod na window ng 2019 FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers na magsisimula sa Setyembre 17.

Ipinaalam mismo ni FIBA secretary-general Patrick Baumann sa ipinadala nitong sulat kay Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) secretary-general Renauld “Sonny” Barrios ang pagpayag ng FIBA para ito makalaro sa binuo na Team Pilipinas matapos na masuspindi ang 10 nitong manlalaro.

“We acknowledged receipt of your request dated 4 September 2018 to authorized the above mentioned Player to play for the national team of the Philippines without restriction,” sabi ni Baumann. “We have taken note of the fact that the Player is claiming to have acquired the legal nationality of the Philippines before the age of 16 but has failed to present the respective passport with a date of issue before his sixteenth birthday.

“In taking the decision whether to apply the restriction of article 3.21a, the following facts are taken into account: a) The Player obtained a Philippines passport shortly after the age of 16, namely at the age of 17 (On 30 June 2005).

b) He moved with his family to the Philippines at the age of 19, and is living there until today, and c) The Player has studied in the Philippines and plays basketball there for the last 11 years.”

“After a thorough review of the documentation provided by your federation please be informed that FIBA herewith exceptionally authorizes the Player Gregory Slaughter to play for the Philippines national team without restriction in accordance with Article 3-21.b of the FIBA Internal Regulations,” paliwanag ni Baumann.

Ang klaripikasyon ng FIBA ay nagtulak sa miyembro ng Barangay Ginebra na si Slaughter upang makalaro bilang isang lokal matapos na unang mailista bilang naturalized candidate kasama ang 18th Asian Games member na si Stanley Pringle at Christian Standhardinger.

Si Slaughter, na parte sa orihinal na Smart Gilas program noong 2009, ay una nang pinagsumite ng mga dokumento upang mapatunayan ang pagiging lehitimo nitong dugong Pilipino.

Una nang sumabak ang ngayon ay 30-anyos na si Slaughter sa aksyon para sa Pilipinas sa dalawang edisyon ng FIBA Asia Champions Cup noong 2009 sa Indonesia at 2010 sa Qatar gayundin sa 2010 FIBA Asia Stankovic Cup sa Lebanon kung saan nakasama nito sina Marcio Lassiter at Chris Lutz bilang mga lokal.

Nakatakdang umalis ang Gilas Pilipinas papuntang Tehran, Iran bukas para sa ikaapat na window ng FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers kung saan makakasagupa nito ang Iran, Kazakhstan at Qatar.