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San Miguel Beermen import Bennie Boatwright

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Romwel Anzures

ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="San Miguel’s Bennie Boatwright. Photo from PBA Images." src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1711897145228IMG_3317.jpeg" class="fr-fil fr-dib"/><figcaption>San Miguel’s Bennie Boatwright. <em>Photo from PBA Images.</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>MANILA — Gilas Pilipinas&#x27; core for its future competitions may be welcoming another prized player in its 12-man pool.</p><p>This, after Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) president Al Panlilio confirmed that former San Miguel Beermen import Bennie Boatwright&#x27;s naturalization as a Filipino citizen is &quot;about to start,&quot; he confirmed to ABS-CBN News in a message.</p><p>Gilas head coach Tim Cone revealed that there is indeed already an agreement between the SBP and the 6-foot-8 American&#x27;s camp.</p><p>&quot;As far as I know, we have an agreement that he is already submitting papers to naturalize,&quot; the Barangay Ginebra mentor said following their win against the Magnolia Hotshots on Sunday at the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/2024/3/31/pba-ginebra-outlasts-magnolia-in-easter-clasico-clash-2056">READ: Ginebra outlasts Magnolia in Easter Clasico clash</a></div><p>Cone also raved about Boatwright&#x27;s skills, sharing that he was one of the persons who vouched for the import&#x27;s naturalization for the national team.</p><p>&quot;I was the one that asked for him,&quot; Coach Cone told of Boatwright, who led SMB to a title in the <a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/2024/2/14/san-miguel-rallies-past-magnolia-to-clinch-commissioner-s-cup-crown-2212">2023-24 Commissioner&#x27;s Cup</a> after averaging 30.3 points, 12.0 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 0.9 steals, and 0.9 blocks.</p><p>&quot;I think he&#x27;s a tremendous talent, he&#x27;s got great size and he can play in and out. He&#x27;s very versatile. Kinda reminds me of a young Justin [Brownlee], just like three or four inches taller so we&#x27;ll see.&quot; </p><p>&quot;He&#x27;s a young guy, and we have to get him into practice, into the system and everything else but it&#x27;s a long way away,&quot; Cone continued, while also tempering expectations on when Boatwright can actually represent the country.</p><p>&quot;This could be a process, usually a long process, three, four, maybe eight months, we don&#x27;t know. It took Justin a long time to get his,&quot; he explained.</p><p>Cone made it clear that Brownlee remains Gilas&#x27; naturalized player for June&#x27;s FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament. </p><p>&quot;Without a doubt, this is written in stone right now, Justin&#x27;s our guy. He is gonna be his backup, just like Justin was a backup to Jordan Clarkson in the World Cup. We&#x27;re gonna go with that at the moment. He&#x27;s not even here yet, he&#x27;s not even naturalized yet. I think he&#x27;s in China at the moment, and I haven&#x27;t talked to him personally about it,&quot; the coach said.</p><p>&quot;That&#x27;s not gonna happen tomorrow, that&#x27;s not gonna happen next month, in June or July,&quot; he added.</p><p>However, Cone is already welcoming the idea of having Boatwright in their practices, especially since they will need all the help that they can get as they prepare for July&#x27;s OQT. </p><p>&quot;When we go to Latvia, it&#x27;s gonna be Justin being the guy doing that, [but] if we can get him into practice, and involved in the system, so that if something does — God forbid, happens — he can be ready to step in. That&#x27;s the plan.&quot;</p><p>&quot;We don&#x27;t know when he&#x27;s gonna be available, but it&#x27;s not gonna happen until he gets his naturalized papers in.&quot;</p><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div><ivs-player data-ivs-key="e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603" data-ivs-spid="3001339" data-ivs-vid="3001013"></ivs-player> <script src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/js/loader.js"></script></div>

<p>Gilas Pilipinas’ core for its future competitions may be welcoming another prized player in its 12-man pool.</p>

Gilas Pilipinas’ core for its future competitions may be welcoming another prized player in its 12-man pool.

Bennie Boatwright’s naturalization process for Gilas ‘about to start,’ says Al Panlilio

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Bennie Boatwright’s naturalization process for Gilas ‘about to start,’ says Al Panlilio

Romwel Anzures,

ABS-CBN News

Published March 31, 2024 11:52 PM PHT

Read More:

FIBA

PBA

San Miguel Beermen

Al Panlilio

Tim Cone

Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas

SBP

abssports

basketball

Bennie Boatwright

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