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FIBA must get to the root of this disturbing foreign policy

Countries need to know how they stand on the rules regarding naturalised basketball players.

by David Perez on 01 November 2007

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JR Holden: Playing for Russia (Gettyimages.com)

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Anyone who has been watching international basketball lately, will notice the abundance of naturalised and foreign players playing for different countries. Samuel Dalembert for Canada and JR Holden for recent European champions Russia to name just a couple.

The official FIBA rule is that each national side can avail itself of one naturalised player. No notification or residency period is required. However, players who have represented one country previously at any level are disbarred from playing for a different nation.

Many have also questioned the presence of more than one foreigner playing for a particular team. As in the case of the Philippines, where there is an abundance of American players. As a rule, players who have local roots (blood lines) with the country they are representing are not considered as naturalised players but as an original local player. This gets confusing when you consider what constitutes having local blood lines.

'Competing teams need to know what are the rules of engagement. What's fair and what is below the line'

One player may claim his great, great ancestors had local roots with the country - but will this suffice? FIBA has taken a rather lenient view of this policy when determining the authenticity of such claims and seems to take at face value whatever the government of the country the player is representing claims.

This can also be a little confusing as some government's have conflicting views about this kind of situjation. Take the case of Alex Crisano, a player the Philippines is planning to use in the next South East Asian Games. According to the Department of Justice of the Philippines, Crisano has no legitimate claim to Filipino roots. Another department of the Philippines might, however, have a different opinion. What does FIBA do in such a case? We have yet to find out.

This is especially so if a protest or inquiry is made by a competing team. These questions need to be addressed as more and more teams are now availing themselves of foreign players. Competing teams need to know what are the rules of engagement. What's fair and what is below the line.

If these things are not addressed don't be surprised if you see whole complete line-ups showing up in the next international tournament that money can buy.

What do FIBA need to do to sort out this problem? Post your comments below or submit an article to Sportingo.

Comments (8)

by John Fatland on November 01, 2007

The USA has an abundance of college players looking for exposure and experience. Some of them can play for a national team because they have a grandfather who immigrated from that country. Dosen't sound quite fair, does it?

by Jason on November 02, 2007

i think as long as a player have for example, Filipino blood, he can play for that country. some of the national team players of the Philippines who grew up in the U.S are full-blooded Filipinos like Caguioa, Helterbrand, Alapag, they just migrated and study there. those they say Fil-Ams are Gabe Norwood, whose one of his grandparents is a Filipino and just migrated in the U.S. Kelly Williams and Danny Seigle who i think their mother is a Filipino. it's not their fault if their parents went to the U.S or in any other countries, they just want to have a better future. if the Fil-Ams were in the U.S or any country they are discriminated, and if they are in the Philippines they still don't have a place. as long as a their player have a Filipino blood it's okay if they play for their country.

by Duke on November 02, 2007

I agree with the general point of the article, but Sam Dalembert is a bad example to back up your case. Dalembert is a Canadian citizen. Last time I checked, that was good enough for FIBA and just about any other governing body in sport. Sure, he wasn't born in Canada, but his mother was, and he immigrated to Canada during his teens, when he learned to play basketball. He only moved to the states for his final year of high school and NCAA ball. He of course stayed in the US to play in the NBA, but that doesn't make him American. If he's a Canadian citizen, frankly I don't see what the problem is.

by Jason on November 03, 2007

if the players parents have a good life or job in the Philippines they will not work and migrate in the other countries. the players will not grew up and study there and they will not be called Fil-Ams. just my opinion.

by Writer on November 03, 2007

Guys the problem is not with guys like Dalembert or Alapag of the Philippines. Dalembert inclusion in Team Canada is well within the rules of FIBA of allowing 1 naturlaize player per contry. , Alapag as well for having legit Filipino roots. The problem arises when teams avail of players who are neither naturalized or whose claim to local roots are quetionable.

by efd on November 03, 2007

i consider it a national shame when my country sends a national team that has players that are not legitimately filipinos. worse, my country tries to do the same a second time around. i think it is only fair that fiba disqualifies my country from international competitions.

by Filam baller on November 08, 2007

As far as im concerned, all the ones who represent the Philippine Team are legitimate citizens (Penissi might be questionable) but that's it. Seigle, Menk and Norwood are legitimate filipino-americans with Filipino blood. You should focus all your hype and beef on Qatar, which i think, has the most "naturalized" players in their lineup.