Romwel Anzures

Gilas Pilipinas’ potential naturalized player Bennie Boatwright (left) with team deputy Richard Del Rosario and Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas Executive Director Erika Dy in the Philippine Senate. File Photo from Facebook/Sonny Angara.

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<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1757422909059IMG_8217.jpeg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Gilas Pilipinas’ potential naturalized player Bennie Boatwright (left) with team deputy Richard Del Rosario and Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas Executive Director Erika Dy in the Philippine Senate. File Photo from Facebook/Sonny Angara. "/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Gilas Pilipinas’ potential naturalized player Bennie Boatwright (left) with team deputy Richard Del Rosario and Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas Executive Director Erika Dy in the Philippine Senate. <em>File Photo from Facebook/Sonny Angara. </em></span></span></span>MANILA — The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas said that the ball is now in the Philippine Congress’ court with regards to the naturalization of potential Gilas Pilipinas player Bennie Boatwright.</div><div><a class="fr-green" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/basketball/2025/8/18/fiba-sbp-gives-an-update-on-bennie-boatwright-s-naturalization-for-gilas-1932"><strong>READ: SBP gives an update on Bennie Boatwright’s naturalization for Gilas</strong></a></div><p>SBP Executive Director Erika Dy shared that there have been significant steps that have been made since the 20th Congress opened last July, saying that they are just waiting for the government’s go signal.</p><p>“It had already been refiled in this Congress when it opened,” Dy said during an appearance at the Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Forum in Manila on Tuesday.</p><p>“We’re just waiting for the Committee on Justice to call us for the first reading,” the former Ateneo de Manila University head coach added.</p><p>However, while it is a wait-and-see game for now, Dy understands that the House of Representatives is tackling other issues which include the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and its corruption-marred flood-control projects.</p><p>“Scheduling process na lang siya, but the Congress has a lot of other things to take care of bago tayo dumating diyan,” she said. “We’re trying to be as patient as we can because there are also other national concerns that come ahead of this.”</p><p>On the other hand, Dy also shared some developments on the naturalized prospect on the women’s side.</p><p>“For Favour Onoh, she already left the Philippines due to a scholarship offer in the US NCAA,” she said of the former University of the Philippines Rookie of the Year in UAAP Season 86.</p><p>“We’re still trying to keep in touch with her, but we haven’t really decided yet if we’re pushing through with her naturalization,” Dy added.</p><div>Earlier this year, UP announced that the 6-foot-4 Onoh exited the Fighting Maroons program to pursue a US NCAA career with Oklahoma State University.<br/><br/><strong>RELATED VIDEO: <span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/KWRSKOYYkYg?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></strong></div>

<p>"We’re trying to be as patient as we can because there are also other National concerns that come ahead of this.”</p>

"We’re trying to be as patient as we can because there are also other National concerns that come ahead of this.”

SBP staying patient on Boatwright naturalization: ‘National concerns come ahead’

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SBP staying patient on Boatwright naturalization: ‘National concerns come ahead’

Rom Anzures,

ABS-CBN News

Published September 09, 2025 09:14 PM PHT

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Basketball

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Bennie Boatwright

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