It’s now official: Former NBA veteran and Blackwater import Greg Smith has reached an agreement to become the next naturalized player of the Philippine national men’s basketball team.
The Gilas management wants Smith, 26, to be part of the program until 2023. But before that, he has to undergo the grueling legislative process required for him to be granted Filipino citizenship.
Blackwater owner Dioceldo Sy relayed the good news to InterAksyon after his meeting with Gilas team manager Butch Antonio on Thursday.
“Okay yung meeting. Maganda yung naging takbo ng mga usapan,” Sy said.
“Nilatag ni Butch Antonio yung program and Greg agrees to playing in future events, until 2023. By that time, he’s 32 or 33 years old so pwede pa.”
While Smith is not yet naturalized, he will serve as a practice player for Gilas Pilipinas with the task of helping Andray Blatche get his groove for the SEABA Championship next week.
“For the meantime, backup muna siya ni Andray. In fact, we want to loan Greg in the Gilas practice on Monday after our game on Sunday. Para lang may taga-bangga kay Andray sa ensayo and help fast track his conditioning for the coming SEABA tournament,” Sy said.
Sy added that Smith isn’t allowed to play as an import for any teams under the MVP umbrella, which bankrolls Gilas Pilipinas, in the PBA while he is waiting to be naturalized.
“Ang gentlemen’s agreement lang namin and alam rin naman ito ni Boss MVP (Manuel V. Pangilinan). No trespassing since import ko si Greg sa PBA, hindi nila puwedeng kunin in future tournaments sa PBA,” Sy said.
“But our decision to help out Gilas is some sort of a payback to the MVP group kasi before, they’ve agreed to lend to us Marcus Douthit, so we’re returning the favor.”
Meanwhile, the national women’s basketball team, which Sy backs, got a boost for its Southeast Asian Games campaign this year as it is set to officially add Kelly Hardeman to its lineup.
Hardeman, who plays in Denmark, has Filipino roots and is eligible to join Perlas Pilipinas as a naturalized player.
“Walang magiging problema. Nakausap ko na yung nanay niya and she told me it won’t have any conflict dahil hindi naman siya maglalaro ng professional basketball sa atin. She will represent the national team,” Sy said.
“We’re looking to fast track her naturalization process and have her for the SEA Games in Malaysia this August.”
