, 
,~~natt 
Republic of the Philippines 
SENATE OF THE PHILIPPINES' 
Pasay City 
d~ffl('r,-ur t~1! ';;'I'Trrhtr ~ 
'14 ' FEB -5 P5 :46 
, 
SIXTEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
s. B. No. _2108 
, 
Introduced by SENATOR JUAN EDGARDO "SONNY" M. ANGARA 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Filipino is a sports-loving nation with a distinct affection for basketball. The 
robust professional basketball league in the Philippines, the PBA, is the oldest running 
professional basketball league in Asia and is the second oldest in the world, next to the 
NBA. Along with several semi-professional, collegiate and recreational leagues all 
around the country, it is safe to say basketball is the country's premier spo.rt.' , 
The recent modest ascent in FIBA standings is indicative of the development of 
Philippine basketball in the international scene, which ought to be sustained. 
The 
Philippine basketball stakeholders including the Filipino cagers have contributed to such 
positive trajectory of Philippine basketball in the Asian and worldarerws. 
International tournaments allow cOI,mtries to be represented by naturalized 
players subject to certain conditions, i.e. number of naturalized players in a team. Other 
countries, while ranking higher than the Philippines, have opted to take advantage of 
this naturalized-player rule, meant to equalize the world basketball landscape 
historically ruled by American and European countries, with great benefit. 
This will not be the first time the Philippines will naturalize athletes in order to 
represent our country in international tournaments. 
In 1985, with three naturalized 
players, Dennis Still, Jeff Moore and Chip Engelland, the Philippines, represented by 
the RP-Northern Consolidated Corporation, won the William Jones Cup and the ABC 
Championships (now known as the FIBA Asia Championship). 
Other naturalized 
athletes have likewise brought honor to the coLintry like 14th and 15th SEA Games gold 
medalist fDr swimming, AkikD ThDmpson; and SEA games medalist and swimming 
champion, Christine JacDb-Sandejas. 
The InternatiDnal Basketball FederatiDn Dr FIBA, the gDverning bDdy in 
internatiDnal basketball cDmpetitiDns, allDws one (1) . naturalized . player to' play· per 
tournament per country. In 2010, the Philippines' naturalized citizen Marcus Eugene 
DDuthit brought hDnor to the Philippines through his key cDntributiDns, leading to the 
Philippine team's winning the 2010 Philippine Invitational Cup, 3rd place in the 2010 
William JDnes Cup, and the 2012 William Jones Cup. 
KnDwn as the FIBA WDrid ChampiDnship frDm 1950 until 2010, the FIBA 
Basketball World Cup is the flagship event of the InternatiDnal Basketball Federation. In 
August 2013, the Philippines, represented by the Smart Gilas, placed 2nd with a 7-2 win-
IDSS record in the 2ih FIBA Asia Championship held at the Mall of Asia Arena, Pasay 
• 


City, Philippines, and clinched a ticket to the coveted FIBA World Cup for the first time 
in 35 years. 
The Philippines is now ranked 34th after the 2013 Continental Championships. 
With the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup set on August 30 to September 14 of this 
year, there is an urgent need to have a pool of naturalized players along with Marcus 
Douthit, to increase the team's over-all capability and as back up in case of injuries . 
. 
Andray Blatche, an American' 6-11 power forward/center with the Brooklyn Nets 
of the National Basketball Association (NBA) with career averages of 9.9 pOints and 5.4 
rebounds per game, has openly expressed his desire to play for the Philippines. He is in 
a position, at age 28, to make significant contributions to Philippine basketball and, 
accordingly, eligible for the conferment of the honor of being a Philippine citizen. 
In consideration of all of the above, approval of this measure is respectfully 
sought. 
,/1 
p-/ 
JUAN ED 
ROO "SONNY" M. ANGARA 
• 


SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
) 
) 
) 
S. B. No. 2108 
-il'U41tl.' 
I.ff,;t or t~. ~,".tar, 
'14 
FEB -5 P 7 :02 
RECEIVlm By; 
Introduced by Senator JUAN EDGARDO "SONNY" M. ANGARA 
" 
AN ACT 
GRANTING PHILIPPINE CITIZENSHIP TO ANDRAY BLATCHE 
1 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Republic of 
2 
the Philippines in Congress assembled. 
3 
4 
SECTION 1. Andray Blatche is hereby granted Philippine Citizenship with 
5 
all the rights, privileges and prerogatives appurtenant thereto. 
6 
7 
SECTION 2. Upon taking and registration of the oath of allegiance to the 
8 
Republic of the Philippines, Andray Blatche shall enter upon the full enjoyment of 
9 
10 
11 
12 
13 
14 
Philippine citizenship. 
SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days from its complete 
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
1