International Takeover

“I’m wearing a blue shirt”

Sam Ekwa uttered those words as he arrived, waiting for Coach Jude Roque to identify him and pick him up at the airport.

“Sam, you’re a 6’8” Nigerian in the Philippines” said Coach Jude. “You’re not that hard to find”

Sure, it was funny three years ago, as the arrival of Sam Ekwe literally changed the game. Big Sam eventually led San Beda College to three straight championships, dominating and playing like a man amongst boys, and winning the Most Valuable Player award twice in the process while increasing the level of play of San Beda College.

Everyone noticed.

Now, everywhere you look in the college basketball scene in the Philippines there’s always some guy who looks a little out of place.

Almost half the teams in the two big college leagues have international players, current, and or under residency.

UAAP Schools		NCAA Schools
Ateneo	Long (USA) Burke (USA)	San Beda	Daniel (USA)
La Salle	Ferdinand (Indonesia) Batricevic (Serbia – injured)	San Sebastian
FEU	Noundou (Cameroon) (Nigerian)*	Jose Rizal U	Njei (Nigeria) Etame (Cameroon)
UST	Darryl Green (USA)	Mapua
UP	Gingerich (USA) Alinko* (Nigeria)	Perpetual	Eriobu (Nigeria, senior high school player for Altalettes)
Adamson	Manyara (Kenya)	Letran
NU	(Cameroonian)* (Cameroonian)*	Benilde	Mbe (Cameroon, residency after stay in EAC)
UE		Arellano	(Nigerian)* (Nigerian)*
		EAC	Fotue (Cameroon – eligibility forfeited)
		Angeles U
* Indicates “Team B” player taking up residency.

Most recruited players are big men. With the Filipino’s fetish for height, schools have literally scoured the globe (usually in even poorer countries compared to the Philippines) in search for that game changing tall guy who could save their program, their jobs and their credibility.

There have been whispers that NU, now under the control of SM and the Sy family, may even head on to China to look for their precious prized recruit. Wouldn’t that be something!

There are of course, a few exemptions to the rule. Kirk Long, a Caucasian from a Missionary’s high school Faith Academy teams up with fellow white guy and son of a pastor Vince Burke Jr. for the Ateneo Blue Eagles. Moriah “Mo” Gingerich, who also hails from the same high school, struts his stuff across Katipunan for the UP Fighting Maroons.

Hey wait a minute! I almost forgot, Ateneo has an international coach in Norman Black too. The plot thickens. But for now let’s concentrate on the players though.

There are simply two camps in this argument: the PRO-International Students-Athletes and the ANTI-International Students-Athletes.

The PRO-International Students Athletes argue that the school is giving a free education to these players and that caters to the basic function of a school: educating. They argue that their participation collegiate basketball is just an added benefit. That the Nigerians, Cameroonians, and what have you are there to get an education first.

Also, sports leaders claim that having ‘better’ international players increases the level of play of the local game and thus increases the quality of the players in the long run.

Both statements have valid points but we have to look at the other side of the coin before we draw to conclusions.

The ANTI-International Student Athletes on the other hand, cry foul on the international student athletes taking away roster spots for locals. With only 18 major schools in the country giving away scholarships, that’s less than 300 scholarships to be competed against by more than three million basketball loving college students in the country. That’s one in ten thousand students.

So far there has been action in the control of the influx on international players. There’s the two year residency rule. Which makes perfect sense, so that the players can get acquainted with the culture and surroundings before they officially suit up. Then there is also the maximum of two international players per team, with one on the court at the same time rule. Except for a few miscues early on, this seems pretty effective in maintaining the ‘Filipino’ game.

The basketball leaders in the country should take a long hard look at what’s going on and re-assess the rules they have for the college game. It won’t be long before international student athletes win all the championships, claim all the major awards and dominate the scene. Schools won’t win championships based on their superior basketball skills; it will be based on their superior scouting and recruiting.

And in the near future, if you happened to bump into a basketball coach at the airport frantically searching for someone, be worried if he utters these words:

“So, uhh, what colored shirt are you wearing?”