CONGRESSMAN ROBERTO PUNO REQUESTS CONGRESS TO NATURALIZE TWO PLAYERS
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 12 Aug 2013
Deputy Speaker Puno.
Privilege Speech
Deputy Speaker Roberto Puno
12 August 2013
Mr. Speaker, my dear colleagues of the 16th Congress, nothing gives us greater pleasure than to recognize a great performance when we see it. I rise today to recognize the Gilas Pilipinas national basketball team, which last night bagged the silver medal in the 27TH FIBA ASIA CHAMPIONSHIP, earning it a coveted slot to finally participate among the world?s best, in the upcoming FIBA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP in Madrid, Spain next year.
Mr. Speaker, today is a glorious day for Philippine sports. Through the unparalled team effort, strong determination and unswerving commitment of Gilas Pilipinas, the Philippines was able to register its strongest finish yet in 27 years in the FIBA Asia Championship. Basketball-loving Filipinos all over the world have long believed that we can sustain, and even surpass, this impressive showing not only because of our national team?s proven basketball skills and acumen, but because finally, we now have the organization, teamwork and resolve to unite under one flag and country, toward the attainment of a common and shared goal.
Today is a day of jubilation, Mr. Speaker, my dear colleagues, as we celebrate not just a victory on the basketball court, but of the triumph of the undying Filipino competitive spirit, and unrelenting will to succeed. Several factors, events, and people came together and saw fruition in the years and months leading up to and culminating in our national team?s inspiring performance from August 1 to 11, 2013.
First of all, a salute to our players: They were the ones who played hard, spent a lot of early mornings and late nights for practice and team meetings. They spent countless hours perfecting the offensive and defensive schemes. To all of them?I will name them one by one according to height --- Jimmy Alapag, LA Tenorio, Jason Castro, Gary David, Larry Fonacier, Jeff Chan, Gabe Norwood, Marc Pingris, Ranidel de Ocampo, Japeth Aguilar, Junmar Fajardo, and the player to whom our colleagues of the 15th Congress bestowed Filipino citizenship by way of legislated naturalization, Marcus Douthit? to all of them --- the country owes you a debt of gratitude for your accomplishment. On behalf of the Filipino people, I thank you.
To the coaches and team management: Head coach Chot Reyes, assistant coaches Norman Black, Nash Racela, Jong Uichico, Ryan Gregorio and Josh Reyes; and team manager Butch Antonio. On behalf of the Filipino people, I thank you.
The Samahang Basketball ng Pilipinas under the visionary leadership of its Chairman, Mr. Manny V. Pangilinan: To the group that spared no expense and finally took Philippine basketball to greater heights and worked tirelessly to host the event in our shores, thus giving us the decided advantage of the home court. On behalf of the Filipino people, I thank you.
The Philippine Basketball Association headed by its Commissioner Chito Salud, and its member teams: the Global Port Batang Pier, Barangay Ginebra San Miguel, Rain or Shine Elasto Painters, Talk n Text Tropang Texters, Petron Blaze Boosters, San Mig Coffee Mixers, Air 21 express, Alaska Aces, Barako Bull Energy Cola, and the Meralco Bolts ? They adjusted their schedules. They lent their players to the national cause. On behalf of the Filipino people, I thank you.
And finally, Congress: For the first time, we, in the House of Representatives can claim to have concretely contributed to this victory with the approval of House Bill 2307 during the 15thCongress or the Act Granting Philippine Citizenship to an exceptional athlete, Marcus Eugene Douhit. To the co-authors who had pledged their support until its passage, Congressmen Jun Tupas, Pidi Barzaga, Dennis Socrates, Gabriel Quisumbing, Nelson Dayanghirang, Jorge Almonte, Rommel Amatong, Rod Antonino, Pj Garcia, Benhur Salimbangon, Emil Ong, Manuel Agyao, Agapito Guanlao, Rodante Marcoleta, Angelo Palmones, Bong Bravo, Anton Lagdameo, Roger Mercado, Lucy Torres-Gomez, Dan Fernandez, Nancy Catamco, Randolph Ting, Arnulfo Go, Cesar Jalosjos, Mark Sambar, Bambi B. Emano, Mark Enverga and Miro Quimbo.
In the Senate as well, for filing its counterpart bill up to its approval--to Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri and Senator Francis Escudero--on behalf of the Filipino people, I thank you.
And last but not least, the Filipino people. This is our victory. To the 15,000 or so supporters who flocked to the SM Mall of Asia Arena everyday and proved to be a daunting crowd to our Asian opponents since the first game against Saudi Arabia to the last game against Iran; to those who watched on TV and were one with the entire nation in the belief that we could once again regain basketball supremacy in Asia, and for those who silently gave their support through prayers: to you , the Filipino people, I give you my thanks.
Mr. Speaker, my dear colleagues of the 16th Congress, our country has participated in three (3) FIBA World Championships--in 1954, 1974 and 1978. Up to this day, the Philippines is the only Asian nation which has won a Bronze medal in the FIBA World Championships in Rio De Janeiro in 1954.
Mr. Speaker, the Philippines also once dominated the FIBA Asia Championship (formerly known as the Asian Basketball Confederation Championship), being the pioneer champions during its inauguration in Manila in 1960, followed by four (4) more championship for years--1963, 1967, 1973 and 1985.
This 2013 Smart Gilas Pilipinas National Basketball Team has given us the country?s strongest finish since 1985 and brings together all the key elements proven to be necessary for success.
A long term program?Coach Chot Reyes was named head coach along with a pool of 17 players for the national team on February 2013.
The Philippine Basketball Association?s full support?The PBA extended its all-out support that proved to be a crucial element leading to the success of the SBP?s program. It lent its best players and adjusted the tournament?s schedule so that the members of Gilas Pilipinas could train unhampered and remain fully committed to the team.
Financial Support?In 1985, it was former Ambassador Danding Cojuangco who provided financial backing to the formation of our men?s national basketball team, then called the Northern Cement team with naturalized players who were granted Philippine citizenship through a Presidential Decree issued by then President Ferdinand Marcos. These players were Jeffrey Moore and Dennis Still.
And in 2013, it is businessman Manuel V. Pangilinan, through the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas, who has provided the funding necessary to form and train the most formidable team that we have had so far since we last won a FIBA medal in 1985.
4. A Naturalized basketball player in the person of MARCUS EUGENE DOUTHIT.
Mr. Speaker, naturalization has become a key element in international basketball competitions and FIBA member countries across the globe have lost no time in naturalizing foreign basketball players to boost their stock in international tournaments. Some of these countries include: Russia, Germany, Japan and Spain with the likes of JR Holden, Chris Kaman, JR Sakuragi as well as Serge Ibaka and Nicola Mirotic. Also seen in the national teams at the 27th FIBA Asia Championship are Jerry Johnson for Kazakhstan, Jimmy Baxter for Jordan, CJ Giles for Bahrain, Jarvis Hayes for Qatar and Quincy Davis for Chinese Taipei.
Marcus Douthit was granted Philippine citizenship on March 15, 2011 and started playing for the Philippine team.
Mr. Speaker, the naturalization of Marcus Douthit was an integral part of a long-term program of the Samahang ng Basketbol ng Pilipinas that began in 2008. Among the programs in SBP, his naturalization was one of the measures undertaken by the organization to help ensure that the Philippine team would be able to turn out an impressive performance in the FIBA Asia Finals. His selection was proven a wise decision on the part of the SBP. Douthit led the 27TH FIBA Asia Championship with the most number of defensive rebounds and total blocks; and with per game averages of 11.9, 9.4 rebounds, 1.6 assists and a 43.2 field goal percentage.
Mr. Speaker, my dear collegeaues of the 16th Congress, The task is not yet complete. There is still much work to be done. We have achieved our objective of securing a slot in the FIBA World Cup, but not our dream of becoming Asian champions.
Mr. Speaker, I stand here today, to urge Congress to naturalize at the minimum two (2) players identified by the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas for the national team that would serve as back up players to one another in case any one of them gets injured. Thus, the Philippine national team avoids the inconvenience of jeopardizing the whole program in the event of an injury to any of our two naturalized players as what had happened when Douthit became physically impaired during the championship game with Iran last night.
This, among other efforts, will help sustain our world-class performance in the global basketball arena and realize our collective aspiration of regaining the Philippines? status as the king of basketball in Asia, and hopefully, later, even the world.
Mr. Speaker, this is not a precedent. There are, in fact, countries who have a pool of naturalized players for their national team. Qatar has naturalized American nationals such as Jarvis Hayes, Trey Johnson and Boney Watson. Lebanon has naturalized Loren Woods, Joe Vogel and Jackson Vroman.
Even South Korea?though born to Korean mothers, the Stevenson Brothers, Jaron Stevenson aka Moon Tae-Jong and Greg Stevenson aka Moon Tae-young; as well as Eric Sandrin a.k.a. Lee Seung Jun, are all listed as naturalized players. (This is due to the amendment recently in FIBA Rules that state that players with dual citizenships must have a passport/claim citizenship before the age of 16).
There are 2 modes of acquiring citizenship in the Philippines: 1) by birth/ Jus Sanguinis (right of blood) which is the legal principle that, at birth, an individual acquires the nationality of his/her parents; and 2) by naturalization.
Naturalization in the Philippines may be conferred judicially, administratively or through legislative act.
There are certain prerequisites for naturalization when such naturalization is conferred judicially or administratively not the least stringent of which is a residency requirement of ten years. By legislation however, there are none. We in Congress may confer citizenship to whomever we so believe deserves it by virtue of his or her exceptional merit and ability. Therefore, only we in the Congress can continue to make the outstanding contributions to our Philippine National Basketball Team, by way of supplying the team with the naturalized players essential to its lasting success.
Marcus Douthit has embraced our culture and has become a Filipino in every way. His two children go to school in the Philippines. He has in fact, and he will hate me for mentioning this in a privilege speech?but I will say it anyway?he has in fact found love in the Philippines. He has contributed immensely to the country?s recent rise in FIBA rankings and his contributions to the country are, indeed, outstanding.
My colleagues, I stand here today to ask your support for future legislation that would continue the program that was started with Douthit.
Again, our heartfelt congratulations to the Gilas Pilipinas men?s basketball team?the silver medalists of the 27th FIBA Asia Championships. I have filed a resolution formally congratulating and commending our national team for its impressive showing in the FIBA Asia Finals. House Resolution 182 recognizes the ?exceptional talent and determination, strong resolve and unparalled team effort? of Gilas Pilipinas in ?elevating the Philippines? stature in international basketball competitions to world-class level.?
Mr. Speaker, my dear colleagues, I started playing basketball at the age of 4, shooting hoopsarinola style in our backyard. I played basketball for as long as I can remember, making it to a few lower-level basketball teams of Ateneo, until I stopped growing and other kids didn?t. I no longer play basketball, Mr. Speaker, but like many Filipinos, I continue to love the game. I love it for its purity and grace. I love it for the discipline it requires. I love it for the friendships it fosters.
Thank you Gilas Pilipinas. Thank you for the gift of pride. The pride that comes with knowing that the Philippines is among the best in the world. I end my speech today, Mr. Speaker, with a video that was sent to me, Let us re-live the pride.
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