GILAS WOMEN SEEKING NATURALIZATION OF UAAP TOP ROOKIE FAVOUR ONOH

BENNIE Boatwright isn’t the only foreign player that the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas is seeking to be naturalized.

Favour Onoh, the Rookie of the Year in last year’s UAAP Season 86 tournament, is also being sought for naturalization and be part of the Gilas Pilipinas Women team after then-Senator Sonny Angara filed Senate Bill 2670.

The bill was submitted a few weeks after the filing of Senate Bill 2646 that seeks to naturalize Boatwright for the Gilas men’s team.

READ Cone hopes Boatwright can join Gilas buildup for November qualifiers

"Favour Onoh would be a great addition to Gilas Pilipinas Women," Angara said. "We have high hopes about her contribution to the development of our women’s national basketball program and to our aspirations of taking part in the Olympics in the near future."

While the naturalization is still being processed, Gilas Women coach Pat Aquino said the 18-year-old Nigerian had already attended their practices in order to get acclimated with the team.

PHOTO: UAAP

"It’s in the process already. I think kasabay siya ni Boatwright. We are just waiting for it. Hopefully, lumabas na," said Aquino.

"She’s been with us already. She has been going to practice at maganda naman ‘yung pagtanggap niya. I think she is very excited and hopefully, she can contribute," said Aquino.

With the naturalization expected to take a lengthy period, Aquino hopes that Onoh will already be eligible to play for the Philippines next year beginning with the Southeast Asian Games to be held in Thailand.

"Target competition for Favour is probably the SEA Games, December, and hopefully for the future, FIBA Asia," said Aquino.

In her first year in the UAAP, Onoh helped turn UP into a force in women’s basketball by averaging 10.1 points, 13.9 rebounds, 1.3 steals, and 3.2 blocks in the Fighting Maroons' 10-4 win-loss campaign.

UP reached the Final Four before being ousted by eventual champion University of Santo Tomas in sudden death.

Onoh was still impressive during the Final Four, hauling a season-high 30 rebounds in an 88-80 UP win that forced a rubber match against UST.

2024-07-26T22:07:56Z dg43tfdfdgfd