The House of Representatives has approved on second reading measures granting Philippine citizenship to Bennie Francois Boatwright III and Maodo Diouf, clearing the path for them to suit up for Gilas Pilipinas.
House Bill No. 6639 for Boatwright and House Bill No. 6640 for Diouf were passed via viva voce voting. The measures were authored by House Committee on Youth and Sports Development chairperson and Isabela Representative Faustino Michael Carlos Dy III, House Committee on Justice chairperson and Batangas Representative Gerville Luistro, Rizal Representative Emigdio Tanjuatco III, and Cagayan de Oro Representative Lordan Suan.
Boatwright, 27, is a 6’10” forward from Los Angeles, California. He previously played as an import in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup and joined the San Miguel Beermen in December 2023.
Diouf, a 6’11” center from Cité Taco Commune Nord in Senegal, first played for Centro Escolar University before transferring to the University of the Philippines, where he was named Most Valuable Player of the UAAP Season 84 men’s basketball tournament.
The bills stated that the players’ skills and potential align with the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas’ program to build a strong pool of naturalized players for the national team.