Deputy Speaker Roberto V. Puno expressed the hope that the Congress can approve the grant of Philippine citizenship to two American athletes in time for the upcoming FIBA World Basketball Cup to be held in Madrid, Spain this year.

Puno, the acting chairman of the National Unity Party (NUP),  said naturalizing basketball players Javale Lindy McGee and Andray Blatche will strengthen the Philippines’ chances in reclaiming its dream as one of the world’s basketball greats during the FIBA World Cup, which will be held from August 30 to September 14.

House Bill 3784 seeks the naturalization of McGee, while House Bill 3783 urges Congress to naturalize Blatche.

Senator Juan Edgardo Angara has already filed the counterpart measures, Senate Bill 2107 and 2108 to naturalize McGee and Blatche, respectively.

Puno was also behind the effort in 2011 to naturalize Marcus Douthit, who played for the Gilas Pilipinas team. Douthit contributing immensely to the team’s success in the FIBA Asia Championship in 2013.

“We need to naturalize at least two players who will be eligible to play for the Philippine team. Although only one will be included in the final line up, it is good to have two players to avoid jeopardizing the entire  basketball program in the event of an injury to any of our naturalized players,” said Puno, who represents the first district of Antipolo City.

Puno made the same plea in his privilege speech last year, when he lauded the Gilas Pilipinas national team for bagging the silver medal in the 2013 FIBA Asia Championship, the country’s strongest finish in the field of basketball in 28 years.

The victory earned for the Philippines a coveted slot in the FIBA Basketball World Cup, where only 24 teams were chosen to play and vie for the crown.

Puno said naturalizing McGee and Blatche would contribute to effective team development considering that the two would be able to practice against each other and serve as backup player to one another.

Calling on his colleagues in the House and lawmakers in the Senate to act swiftly on the two measures, Puno said the two bills have now acquired a sense of urgency considering that the qualifiers to the FIBA World Cup would have to submit their respective initial lineup of players by May 30, and the list of the 24-player pool by July 30.

“I call on Congress to contribute to the national cause of bringing pride, honor and glory to our country through our collective triumph in a sport that has always been the love and passion of most Filipinos, which is basketball,” Puno said.

The measure seeking to naturalize McGee is a re-filed bill by Puno from the 15th Congress. Owing to several financial concerns, such as issues involving McGee’s insurance requirements, Puno said he deemed it wise to withdraw the measure at that time.

“These financial concerns and other constraints have now been resolved to the advantage of the Philippine national team. Thus, we are now renewing our call for the grant of Philippine citizenship to Mr. McGee on the grounds that his exceptional talent and ability would make him an invaluable asset not only to our national team but to our country,” Puno said in his explanatory note to HB 3784.

Javale Mcgee, who stands 7’1” tall, has career averages of 7 points, 3 rebounds and .4 assists per game. He is currently plays center for the Denver Nuggets.

Blatche’s career averages are impressive as well—9.9 points, 5.4 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game.Blatche, who currently plays for the Brooklyn Nets in the NBA, stands 6’11.”

Puno said naturalizing athletes to play for the national team is nothing new as this has been done by other countries to boost their global rankings. These include South Korea which has naturalized the brothers Jaron and Greg Stevenson and Eric Sandrin so that they could play for the national basketball team. Russia catapulted to first place in 2007 in the European basketball rankings due in large part to its move to bring in naturalized players Jon Robert Holden and Kelly McCarty.

“Naturalization by legislation allows Congress to confer Philippine citizenship to whomever it believes deserves this honor by virtue of exceptional merit and ability. Congress can continue being an integral part of the Philippines’ resounding success in world basketball by naturalizing another player that has proven his outstanding performance in the sport,” said Puno.

He said the Philippines needs to the adapt to the needs and demands of international competitions by implementing similar steps done by its rivals to emerge triumphant in these events.