After missing one “boat”, the Samahang Basketbol Pilipinas ensures it won’t miss another.
Bennie Boatwright has agreed to undergo naturalization and serve as a backup to Justin Brownlee for this Olympic cycle.
The Philippine Daily Inquirer’s Musong Castillo and Spin.ph’s Dodo Catacutan were the first to report this development.
For years, former San Miguel import Chris McCullough had sought naturalization, but nothing materialized.
Now, another San Miguel import will have the chance.
(C) PBA Images
Boatwright, standing at 6-foot-10, led the Beermen to the 2023–24 Commissioner’s Cup title with averages of 30.31 points, 12.0 rebounds, and 3.46 assists per game.
He is currently playing for Shanxi in China, averaging 16.4 points and 6.1 rebounds in seven games.
According to Castillo’s report, Justin Brownlee will remain the primary import for this cycle.
Boatwright’s youth, as he is only 27 years old, will be valuable for Gilas Men’s competitions after this cycle and for tournaments like the Asian Games and the Southeast Asian Games.
Having Boatwright will increase the pool of naturalized players available for Gilas, including 6-foot-11 Angelo Kouame — currently playing for UB Chartres Métropole in France.
