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| Jalen Green and Kai Sotto will team up in the NBA G-League select team, but a possibility of them seeing together in 2023 for Gilas Men remains. Chooks-To-Go (file photo) |
By Ivan Saldajeno
MANILA--Even if he already played for USA Basketball in the youth level, Filipino-American winger Jalen Green expressed openness on joining Gilas Pilipinas Men in the senior level.
"It could be a possibility," Green said on Thursday when asked about the plausibility of the case in an online press conference put up by NBA Philippines.
Green played for the United States in the FIBA U19 World Cup in Greece last year, in which the team went on to clinch the gold.
The year before that, Green led Team USA to the FIBA U17 World Cup title and won Most Valuable Player honors.
But with Filipino blood running in his veins as well as a Philippine passport in his belongings, Green can be eligible to play for Gilas Men possibly in the 2023 FIBA World Cup that the Philippines will co-host with Japan and Indonesia.
However, the fact that he already played for Team USA poses a threat to Green's eligibility.
"I have already played for the USA. I've won gold medals with the USA, so I'm not sure [if I am still eligible to play for Gilas Men]," he further said. "Only time will tell at this point."
If he will be declared ineligible to play as a local, Green can still join Gilas Men but as a naturalized player, but even that could be affected by his Team USA appearances.
While Green's eligibility remains a question at this point, fans can already take a glimpse of what could be in store for 2023 as he will team up with fellow NBTC alumnus Kai Sotto with the NBA G-League Select Team.
Follow him on Twitter: @IvanSaldajeno_
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