oN
3” RECEIVED

Republic of the Philippines
House of Representatives
Quezon City, Metro Manila

a

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regutar Session

HOUSE BILLNO. 6169

Introduced by Hon. Roberto V. Puno

This bill seeks to grant Philippine citizenship 1o JaVale Lindy McGee.

Fédération Internationate de Basketball Amateur (FIBA), The International Basketball
governing body in international basketball competitions, allows a naturalized player
to play in a national team. In the Asian region, naturalized players include Samuel
Hoskin for Lebanon, Rasheim Wright for Jordan, JR. Sakuragi for Japan and the
Stevenson Brothers for Korea. In the European region, naturalized players include Bo
McCalebb for Macedonia, Serge fbaka for Spain, J.R. Holden for Russia and Chris
Kaman for Germany.

Secking to regain lost glory in international basketball competitions, the Samahang
Basketbol ng, Pilipinas in 2008 launched a program consisting of innovations which
included hiting a foreigner as head coach, wllizing college level players to sustain
Jong term programs, acquiring Filipino-American players and most importantly,
fielding a naturalized player in accordance with FIBA rules and consistent with
Philippine laws.

Thus in 2011, Republic Act 10148 conferred Philippine Citizenship to an Amesican
national and exceptional athlete Marcus Eugene Douthit. With Douthit as the new
starting center, the Philippines’ men’s national basketball team placed 2° in the very
strong 21" Dubai Basketball Invitational Tournament behind Asian powerhouses Iran
and Lebanon on 2010, 4” place during the 2010 William Jones Cup, 3" place durmg
the 2011 William Jones Cup, 4* place in the 22™ FIBA Asia Champions Cup in
Jakarta, Indonesia; and 4" place during the recently concluded 26" FIBA Asia
Championship held in Wuhan China, These 4% place finishes in FIBA sanctioned
tournaments ted to the country’s highest ranking in a fong time, Our country’s ranking
tose from the 53” rank to the 45" rank worldwide, the 3rd highest movement in
ranking in the world behind Macedonia and Great Britain.

‘The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) would like to maintain and sustain the
momentum it has started with the Smart Gilas program in 2008. The new program of
the SBP incorporates leanings obtained in previous tournaments. ‘Therefore the
program now restores the use of a local head coach, once again creates a pool of
players from the Philippine Basketball Association (no longer college ball players),
continues to scout overseas-based Filipino players, but most importantly, seeks to
galvanize, strengthen and ensure continuity with regards to our naturalized player. ft
is no doubt that the biggest success of the 2008 Smart Gilas Program was the


conferment of Philippine Citizenship to Marcus Engene Douthit. It is for this purpose
that this bill seeks to grant Philippine Citizenship to JaVale Lindy McGee.

JaVale Lindy McGee was bom on January 19, 1988 in Flint, Michigan, USA. A
basketball standout at the Hales Franciscan High School in Chicago, McGee later on
signed as the starting center for the University of Nevada during college. After only
two years, McGee was selected by the Washington Wizards in the 1* sound, 18”
overall, of the 2008 NBA Draft. He played for the Washington Wizards from 2008 -
2012. On March 15, 2012, he was traded to the Denver Nuggets.

Starting his career as a professional basketball player in the United States in 2008,
‘McGee, who stands 7°1" tal, is a versatile player with tremendous mobility and
athleticism. McGee, who averaged 10.1 points, 8 rebounds and 2.4 blocks with the
‘Washington Wizards during the NBA Season 2010 — 2011, was also ranked 9 in the
NBA in blocks per game for season 2009 - 2010. As a rookie for the year 2008 —
2009, he scored a season-high 18 points in three games and also grabbed a season-
high 11 rebounds in three games, He was considered twice to play center position for
the United States Men’s National basketball team and trained at the Team USA’s
summer training camp in preparation for the 2010 World Championship in Turkey, in
2011, he was chosen to participate at the NBA Slam dunk contest, the first player in
Washington Wizards history to do so. Though he did not win, he was cited by the,
Guinness Book of World Records for achieving a world record in most basketballs
dunked in one jump, having used three balls in a single dunk during the competition.

Given his remarkable track record in the United States’ professional basketball scene
McGee will no doubt be a great asset to our country if given a chance to play for the
Philippine team, McGee is widely regarded as the only NBA player eligible for
naturalization, since majority of the center players from the NBA have already played
for other national teams and are no longer eligible for naturalization per FIBA rules.
This bili is also in tune with the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas’ new program
maximizing the eligibility of a naturalized player, McGee being only 24 years old.
‘With the approval of this bill, our country could have two (2) naturalized players who
would contribute effective development to the team. The two of them would practice
against each other, and also would serve as back up players to each other in case any
‘one of them gets injuted and would not be able to play in certain tournaments. The
addition of another naturalized player in the person of JaVale Lindy McGee would
ensure continuity in the program that was started with Marcus Douthit. Both players
can altemate in tournaments, in preparation for the 2014 FIBA World Championships
and finally, the ultimate dream for an Olympic berth in 2016.

Finally, McGee has genuinely expressed his willingness to play for the Philippine
team, if we will not naturalize McGee, it is most certain, that another country will.

In view of the foregoing reasons, the approval of this bill is sought. (>) (
Rt (RTO V. PUNO


Republic of the Philippines
House of Representatives
Quezon City, Metro Manila

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 6169

Introduced by Hon, Roberto V. Puno

AN ACT GRANTING PHILIPPINE CITIZENSHIP TO JAVALE LINDY
MCGEE

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representarives of the Philippines in

Congress assembled:
SECTION 1. JaVale Lindy McGee is hereby granted Philippine citizenship

with all the rights and privileges and prerogatives appurtenam thereto.
Upon taking and registration of the oath of allegiance 10 the Republic of the

Philippines, JaVale Lindy McGee shall enter upon the full enjoyment of Philippme

citizenship
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon its approval.

Approved,