What's new

Al Panlilio on Bennie Boatwright: 'We've found the right guy'

rr0131

Forum Veteran
Elite
Joined
Jul 16, 2016
Posts
2,327
Reaction
850
Points
595
You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now. president You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now. was left impressed after his first meeting with You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now. naturalization prospect You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now.n Saturday.

You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now. had a chance to size up the San Miguel import away from the court over lunch at the Fairways Grill of the Manila Golf and Country Club in Makati with Gilas Pilipinas coach Tim Cone, Gilas team manager Richard del Rosario and SBP executive director Erika Dy, according to the You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now..

Needless to say, the SBP chief liked what he saw.

“Bennie is very mild-mannered, maamo yung character niya, very respectable," said You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now., who later relayed his initial impressions to SBP chairman emeritus Manny V. Pangilinan and SBP vice president Ricky P. Vargas in a curt text message.

"It seems we have the right guy.”

The 6-foot-10, 235-lb You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now. flew in from China where he played for the Shanxi Loongs in the Chinese Basketball Association to get the ball rolling on what is expected to be a long and tedious naturalization process.

The good news is, he has time, since Justin Brownlee will play the role of Gilas naturalized player in the July 2-7, 2024 Olympic Qualifying Tournament in the capital Riga in Latvia.

“I told him [Boatwright] that he’s a bigger, younger version of Brownlee,” said Panlilio. “He’s very excited to be chosen, to be part of the Gilas journey.”

A godson of former PBA import Francois Wise, You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now. made an appearance at the Philsports Arena on Friday to watch San Miguel play Converge in the Philippine Cup and later talked with reporters.

“It started with a couple of players, they were mentioning me,” Boatwright said. “After we played Barangay Ginebra, Boss Al (Chua, SMC sports director) asked me if I was interested. And I said ‘for sure.’ Ever since then, the ball has been rolling.”

No-brainer​

Boatwright said it was anYou do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now.

“For sure, very easy decision. It was aYou do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now. he said. “As the opportunity came and the experience of playing in the Philippines, you can’t say no to that.”
 

Similar threads

Back
Top