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Manila Bulletin devider Sports devider Basketball devider Ball gets rolling on Bennie Boatwright's naturalization

Ball gets rolling on Bennie Boatwright's naturalization

Published Nov 18, 2025 04:48 pm

At A Glance

  • The ball has finally begun rolling for the naturalization of Gilas Pilipinas candidate Bennie Boatwright as head coach Tim Cone revealed that he is back in the Philippines to formally start the process.
The ball has finally begun rolling for the naturalization of Gilas Pilipinas candidate Bennie Boatwright as head coach Tim Cone revealed that he is back in the Philippines to formally start the process.
Currently playing in Taiwan, the national team mentor said the 6-foot-10 forward is spending a week in town to work on the papers for his naturalization.
“Benny's in town and he's scheduled to start his process. I think it's first all about paperwork,” Cone said of the former San Miguel import in the PBA.
“Just getting paperwork done and then he's got an interview or something or a hearing later in the week. I think. He's gonna be here for five days,” he added.
Boatwright’s arrival couldn’t have come at a better time as the Nationals have also just begun its preparation for the 2027 FIBA World Cup Asian qualifiers.
The sweet-shooting center, according to Cone, has committed to attend the practice just to meet the squad and get to know more of the principles of the team’s triangle system.
“He said he would attend practices in terms of just looking and watching. He's gonna come over and watch some of the practices. That'd be a positive thing for us,” added the veteran mentor.
Boatwright is set to appear before the House of Representatives in a series of hearings to process his naturalization which was earlier filed by former senator Sonny Angara through Senate Bill 2646.
The bill, which was filed in April 2024 but was put on the backburner due to other pressing issues as well as the 2025 midterm elections, seeks to grant Boatwright a Filipino citizenship to join current Gilas players Ange Kouame and Justin Brownlee in the naturalized player pool.
In between of those, Boatwright also suffered an Achilles injury but is now back in the pink of his health. He already showed off a glimpse of what he can do when he finished with 21 points for the Fubon Braves in the EASL.
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