MANILA – Filipino-American guard Jalen Green of Houston Rockets is not ruling out the possibility of suiting up for the Gilas Pilipinas national men’s basketball team in the future.
In an interview with ABS-CBN News, the former No. 2 overall pick stated that he wants to try with the United States men’s basketball team first before considering joining the Team Philippines.
“Maybe, I gotta try Team USA first,” said Green, who traced his Filipino roots from Ilocos Sur. “I want to accomplish playing and winning a gold with the USA men’s basketball team first.”
“There’s no like, consideration. I wanna play for the States first, then I’ll go play for Gilas,” added Green, who previously played in the NBTC Basketball Tournament in the Philippines.
Interestingly, Green can no longer represent Gilas Pilipinas in any FIBA-sanctioned basketball tournaments if ever he suits up for United States men’s basketball team.
Meanwhile, Atlanta Hawks center Onyeka Okongwu also ruled out the possibility of getting naturalized for the Philippine team.
Okongwu’s name floated as among the possible naturalized candidates for the Tim Cone-mentored Gilas squad after his name was listed on the 60-man pool for the 2023 Asian Games.
“Maybe, I probably said something about it,” Okongwu said of reports that he is open to being naturalized for the Philippines. “But you know, if I’m trying to play internationally, it would be for Team Nigeria.”
“I probably said something about it [Gilas], and I got love for my old coaches, but nah, [I’m] Team Nigeria,” the 24-year-old big man added.
Okongwu also stated that no one from the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas has approached him for a possible naturalization./PN
