Justin Brownlee is looking to gather and submit soon all the necessary papers to finally get the wheels of his naturalization process rolling.
The Barangay Ginebra import said that he has begun collating all the requirements for his bid of becoming a Filipino citizen after it was revealed recently that the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) has yet to file any.
“Obviously, it takes time. But hopefully, I can get everything I need, turn it in, that can start the process,” he shared moments after the Kings’ 93-101 loss to Phoenix Super LPG in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup, Friday night.
The SBP became the center of online talk anew when Sen. Francis Tolentino bared that the Senate and its counterparts in congress have not received any paper that could begin the naturalization of Brownlee and Cam Oliver.
“Not a single page of paper that would support, that would trigger the naturalization proceedings,” said the statesman during the Finance Subcommittee F’s deliberation on the proposed 2023 budget of the PSC.
It was contrary to the previous statements issued by the federation, and SBP vice president Ricky Vargas could only apologize for the delay as he was in attendance together with executive director Sonny Barrios.
Brownlee, 34, has been eyed as a major part of Gilas Pilipinas’ plans for the FIBA World Cup 2023, thus the goal to have him naturalized.
There’s actually been a bill filed for that in 2018, led by no less than 1Pacman representative and NorthPort Batang Pier owner Mikee Romero.
The well-known sports patron filed House Bill No. 8106, together with three other lawmakers. However, no progress has been made since, and it also did not help that two cycles of Congress have passed.
“Initially, Sheryl Reyes, my agent in the past, she was, I think, working with Mikee Romero,” recalled Brownlee, who was handled by the late Sheryl Reyes.
“But, you know, when she passed away, I think that had a lot to do with me, myself, not turning in proper paperwork and things like that.”
Now, the American cager is working double time to comply with the needed papers, doing his part to make his naturalization a reality.
“I knew it was a thing, what, 2018? Whenever it started. But I just didn’t turn any papers in. But now, I’m officially, basically just started turning in papers.”
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