Gilas Pilipinas: FIBA open to changing 'Hagop rule' on eligibility - report

A FIBA official is open to re-examining and changing the basketball governing body’s rules on eligibility, which shall likely benefit Gilas Pilipinas for future competitions.

FIBA Executive Director for Asia Hagop Khajirian said FIBA is “open” to “any change of rules” for as long as it shall “help in developing basketball worldwide” as noted in a PhilStar report citing the official’s guesting at Noli Eala’s Power & Play show.

“Does this change help in developing basketball worldwide? Does this change help improve basketball on a national level?,” Khajirian said.

“Even if there are proposals to study the cases and the possibility of increasing the number of naturalized players in any national team, we have to take into consideration: Does this change help in developing basketball worldwide? Does this change help improve basketball on a national level?”

Among the prominent eligibility rules are acquiring a passport before the age of 16 to be considered a local for a national team.

The Philippines is one of the countries which shall win big should changes in eligibility rules be implemented.

Heritage players like Jordan Clarkson, Remy Martin, Stanley Pringle, and Christian Standhardinger are only considered “naturalized” players under the existing rules.

Veteran big man Greg Slaughter even needed a special grant for him to be considered a local back in the 2018 window of the FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers.

Back in 2011, Chris Lutz and Marcio Lassiter missed three games for Gilas in the FIBA Asia Championship after their eligibility was subject to checking.

Co-hosting the 2023 World Cup alongside Indonesia and Japan, Gilas could definitely put up a strong roster if FIBA decides to relax its rules on eligibility.

The women’s side shall also benefit, given the influx of overseas Fil-foreign talents being discovered in recent years, including Chanelle Molina who was signed to a training camp deal by WNBA club Indiana Fever.

PSC Media Pool photo

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Levi Joshua Jr Verora

Levi Joshua Jr. Verora is a sportswriter, announcer, and commentator in the Philippines. He has covered national and international events like the FIBA Olympic and World Cup Qualifiers, AmeriCup, Asia Cup, and 3x3, Asian Volleyball Championship, ASEAN Basketball League, Southeast Asian Games, and AFF Championship. Nowadays, you'll hear his voice in the Philippines Football League and other local sports leagues.

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