Kelly Hardeman, a six-foot player who is currently playing in Denmark, has expressed her desire to play for the Philippine national women’s basketball team as the its naturalized player.
Dioceldo Sy, whose Blackwater team is bankrolling Perlas Pilipinas, confirmed this to InterAksyon.com.
“She’s very interested,” wrote Sy, who is currently in Stockholm after spending the Holy Week with his family.
Hardeman is currently playing for Amager in Denmark, averaging 14.4 points and 10.5 rebounds in 24 games.
She was born and raised in the Philippines, and was even a classmate of Sy’s son at Faith International Christian School in Cainta, Rizal.
Hardeman saw action in the US NCAA Division Two, suiting up for Azusa Pacific where she had a near double-double averages of 17.2 points and 9.4 rebounds per game throughout her college career.
Sy said he has already ironed out the details of Hardeman’s possible stint with Perlas Pilipinas and it’s now up to the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas to make it a reality.
“I’ve fixed everything na. SBP has to move fast,” Sy added.
Perlas Pilipinas is currently building up for the FIBA Asia Women’s Cup in July and the Southeast Asian Games in August.
The team will also undergo training in Malaysia and take part in the William Jones Cup in the first week of July, according to team manager Wilbert Loa.