Strong Group Athletics-Philippines team owner Frank Lao is willing to aid former NBA player Dwight Howard in becoming a naturalized Filipino if he truly wishes to join Gilas Pilipinas in the future.
Lao mentioned that they can explore avenues for Howard to acquire Filipino citizenship, making him eligible for the national men’s basketball team in non-FIBA tournaments such as the Southeast Asian Games and Asian Games.
The process of naturalizing the one-time NBA champion, however, would be prolonged, involving approval from both the House of Representatives and the Senate, along with the President’s signature.
“If Dwight really wants it, magagawan naman ng paraan ‘yun,” Lao said in an interview with Fastbreak on Thursday night. “The SGA is willing to help Dwight with his naturalization process.”
In a social media post on Thursday, Howard announced his decision to play for Gilas Pilipinas after not making it to the 40-player Team USA pool for the Paris Olympics.
Regardless of his seriousness, Howard will be ineligible to play for the Philippine men’s basketball team in the Olympic qualifying tournaments, having previously represented the United States in the FIBA World Cup.
“Naglaro sa Team USA si Howard before, and alam ko under FIBA rules bawal na siya maglaro para sa ibang country. Pero pag pwede, like sa non-FIBA tournaments, tutulong kami,” Lao said.
“Pwede rin namin tulungan ang Gilas na makuha si Howard para sa mga Asian Games, SEA Games,” he added. “If the Gilas needed me, handa kami tumulong sa bansa financially and spiritually.”
Howard is currently serving as a reinforcement for the Philippine representatives, the Strong Group Athletics, actively participating in the 33rd Dubai International Basketball Championship.
The post Frank Lao offers assistance in Dwight Howard’s Filipino naturalization process first appeared on Fastbreak.
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