One less problem for Philippine Men’s National Basketball Team head coach Yeng Guiao.
Seven-foot big man Greg Slaughter has been cleared by the International Basketball Federation to play as a local for the Philippines for the rest of the 2019 FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers.
“We are happy to announce to the entire basketball-loving Filipinos that SBP’s push to FIBA to prove that Greg Slaughter is a pure Filipino has been recognized,” SBP president Al Panlilio said that was relayed to SBP SAP Ryan Gregorio.
“I just found out FIBA has approved my eligibility as a local,” added Slaughter.
“Couldn’t be happier about this.”
Questions lingered when Slaughter was asked to join the pool for the first window of the second round of the 2019 FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers, on whether he will be classified as a local or as a naturalized player.
Though born in Cleveland, Ohio, Slaughter was baptized in Cebu. Moreover, he was not able to present his passport to FIBA before his 16th birthday – having gotten it at the age of 17.
But FIBA saw that Slaughter is a Filipino citizen as he has been living in the Philippines for the last 13 years and has studied in the Philippines (University of Visayas and Ateneo de Manila University).
With this, Guiao can now go as planned with splitting national team duties between Stanley Pringle and Christian Standhardinger.
“I think we’ll choose between Stanley and Christian on who the naturalized player will be for the Iran game. But we’re not making that decision right away. Puwede namang doon na sa Iran gawin yon eh. Kasi ang submission ng final lineup is the day before the game eh,” said Guiao.
