MARCUS DOUTHIT has gained automatic naturalization but despite being a Philippine passport holder, the six-foot-10 American could not play in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA).

His career as a “Filipino” basketball player will thus be confined only to the Smart Gilas-Pilipinas national team.

The PBA, according to its operations head Rickie Santos, does not allow naturalized aliens to play in the league.

Santos said Douthit is not qualified to apply for the rookie draft where an applicant who is not a pure Filipino or a citizen must have at least one parent with Filipino lineage. Filipino-foreign players even need confirmation from the Department of Justice and affirmation from the Bureau of Immigration and Deportation to become eligible for the draft.

Douthit has been instrumental in the Nationals’ surge in the ongoing Commissioner’s Cup of the PBA where they are unbeaten in four games. The 30-year-old Providence produce therefore would have to solely concentrate on helping the Philippines top the Asian qualifier for the London Olympics in China in September.

Most of Douthit’s teammates at Gilas are expected to join the draft in August, regardless of the result of the China tournament.

“Marcus will be an important player for the Philippine team not only for Smart Gilas but for the future men’s team for four to five years,” said national coach Rajko Toroman.

The last time a national team had a naturalized player or players was in the early 1980s when the then-Northern Cement Corp. bankrolled by former Ambassador Danding Cojuangco Jr. had Jeff Moore, Dennis Steel and Chip England.

After the team disbanded, the three naturalized players never played in the PBA and went back home and pursued different careers in the United States.

Douthit was naturalized after Malacañang failed to act inside a 30-day period—which exprired on March 11—on a bill endorsed by Antipolo City Rep. Robbie Puno.

Joel Orellana, Business Mirror