LEBANON QUESTIONS ELIGIBILITY OF LASSITER AND LUTZ
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Thu, 15 Sep 2011
In a totally unexpected move Lebanon has questioned the eligibility of Marcio Lassiter and Chris Lutz, key members of the Smart Gilas national team to the FIBA Asia Men?s Championships in Wuhan, China which is the qualifying tournament for a sole berth in the 2012 London Olympic Games.
Talk N? Text coach Chot Reyes who is one of those helping Head Coach Rajko Toroman told the Inquirer a short while ago that Lebanon claimed Lassiter and Lutz were naturalized players which is farthest from the truth.
Reyes said Butch Antonio ?showed them all the documents and discussed all the points to Hagop Khajirian in our favor. Hagop is the FIBA Asia deputy secretary general to Malaysia?s Dato Yeoh who is ill and, according to Martelino , ?leaves everything to Hagop? who, significantly, is Lebanese..
Reyes said Hagop was ?Makulit lang talaga.?
He said they ?already involved Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas executive director Sonny Barrios and former FIBA Asia secretary general Moying Martelino. They already talked to Patrick Baumann, FIBA secretary general and Legal Affairs Manager Benjamin Cohen. They understand our position.?
Reyes said SBP had already written to Baumann to formalize our claim.?
The Philippines plays United Arab Emirates in our opening game of the group matches later today.
Martelino told the Inquirer this morning that he had spoken to both Baumann and Cohen and explained that under the provisions of the Philippine Constitution since one of the parents of both Lassiter and Lutz were Filipinos at the time of their birth they were considered ?natural born Filipinos.?
Martelino pointed out that Lassiter and Lutz had played in the SEABA championships which was a quakifier for the FIBA Asia Championships and also saw action in the FIBA-sanction Champions Cup tournament.ed
Martelino said ?we have asked FIBA to make a ruling.. We leave out fate up to them.?
The latest word from Reyes is that they have now asked for the passport of Lutz and have indicated thata decision will be made before the Philippines 6:00 p.m. gave today.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Weights From Atlantic City
Fri, 07 Nov 2025DC Jiu Jitsu wins 6 golds, 4 silvers, 11 bronzes
By Lito delos Reyes, Fri, 07 Nov 2025Gladiator Management Fighters In Action This Fall
Thu, 06 Nov 2025NBA Daily: Doncic Shines as Lakers Topple Wembanyama and the Spurs 118-116
By Reylan Loberternos, Thu, 06 Nov 2025Jellie Ann Magro wins 6 straight, Quezon City down Isabela in PCAP
By Marlon Bernardino, Thu, 06 Nov 2025Carlos De Leon Castro Stays Perfect with Explosive TKO Win in Orlando on DAZN
Thu, 06 Nov 2025Donaire in historic bid
By Joaquin Henson, Thu, 06 Nov 2025BROADCAST DETAILS ANNOUNCED FOR CMH2: BADOU JACK VS. NOEL MIKAELIAN
Thu, 06 Nov 2025Top prospect Marco Romero A victim of dramatic changes in Today’s professional boxing world
Thu, 06 Nov 2025Closing of registration on Nov. 15 for SDSPPO TWG-PAGPTD Run in Tandag
By Lito delos Reyes, Thu, 06 Nov 2025Rafael Espinoza-Arnold Khegai & Tenshin Nasukawa-Takuma Inoue Blockbuster Cards to Stream LIVE on Top Rank Classics FAST Channel
Thu, 06 Nov 2025JUSTIN LACEY-PIERCE OUTLASTS COURTNEY PENNINGTON IN DETROIT
Wed, 05 Nov 2025The José Sulaimán Boxers’ Fund continues supporting fighters worldwide
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Wed, 05 Nov 2025NBA Daily: Sans Injured Young, Hawks Still Dominate Magic 127-112
By Reylan Loberternos, Wed, 05 Nov 2025Kamatyas FIDE Rapid chess on Nov 8
By Marlon Bernardino, Wed, 05 Nov 2025