MANILA, Philippines – Smart Gilas American import Marcus Douthit is now excited that his papers which will make him a naturalized Filipino citizen is now at Malacañang and are just awaiting the signature of President Noynoy Aquino. “I’m just happy. I hope it will be done soon,” the 6-foot-10 Douthit told the Bulletin yesterday in a telephone interview.
On Tuesday, Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) executive director Noli Eala said that Douthit’s papers – known as House Bill No. 2307 – have been forwarded to Malacañang for final signature of Aquino.
Eala said that the President has 30 days, or until Mar. 11, to sign the naturalization papers of Douthit, to officially make it a law. However, if the 30-day period lapses, the SBP official said it will be an “automatic law.”
The 30-year-old Douthit, a native of Syracuse, New York, has been with the national team for almost a year now, and has played for Smart-Gilas in various international competitions except in last year’s Asian Games in Guangzhou, China.
That time, his papers were still being processed.
Douthit is training with the RP team for the FIBA-Asia Championship in September in Wuhan China, the qualifying event for the 2012 London Olympics.
Smart-Gilas Serbian coach Rajko Toroman, on the other hand, said that having a player like Douthit will not only benefit the current batch of the national team, but also the future teams that will compete in various international tournaments.
“It’s good for Philippine basketball,” Toroman said. “The national team will be very competitive with a big player like Marcus for the next 4 to 5 years.”
Waylon Galvez, Manila Bulletin
