With Gilas Pilipinas still figuring out how to field in Andray Blatche or Christian Standhardinger in the 2019 FIBA World Cup Qualifiers, one face familiar to Philippine basketball fans made it known that he is open to naturalization.
Best Import for the 2017 PBA Commissioner’s Cup Charles Rhodes directly tweeted Gilas head coach Chot Reyes last September 2 that he wants a shot at playing and representing the Philippines.
@coachot Hello Coach, I want to play for you and the Philippines. Please consider, as I want to represent this country on and off the court
— Charles Rhodes (@officialcrhodes) September 1, 2017
Rhodes helped end the San Miguel Beermen’s 17-year Commissioner’s Cup title drought with norms of 28.4 points, 10.5 rebounds, and 1.6 blocks in the regular season. In the playoffs, he averaged 23.7 points, 11.4 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks, ending his nine-year search for gold.
The native of Galveston, Texas stands at just 6-foot-8, however, and is already 32-year-old.
This decade, the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas has naturalized Marcus Douthit, Andray Blatche, and Christian Standhardinger. And Coach Reyes has made it known that the SBP is exhausting all its efforts so that Gilas will have a reinforcement for the home-and-away qualifiers.
“That’s how difficult our situation is. Maybe some of you are saying nagpapa-cute lang kami dahil wala kaming maisagot pero that’s the truth, mahirap ang situation namin,” he noted.
