POSTED BY: Eurobasket News
Isaiah Austin
Former National Basketball Association (NBA) prospect Isaiah Austin is being considered by Gilas Pilipinas (Philippine National Team) as its next naturalized player.
Austin, played college ball at Baylor, will be brought as an import for Gilas to boost the squad in its campaign in the upcoming FIBA-Asia Champions Cup which will be held at Chenzhou, China from September 22-30, 2017.
Gilas will be bannering the Chooks-to-go name in the tournament.
The 23-year-old former NBA draftee was diagnosed with Marfan Syndrome in 2014 was a ceremonial pick by Commissioner Adam Silver, fulfilling Austin's dream of being drafted.
Just recently, Austin was cleared by doctors to play and resumed his professional basketball career with FMP in Serbia in 2016.
He just finished a stint in China playing for Guangxi Rhinos.
Austin will take the place of former NBA forward Andray Blatche for the tournament.
Blatche, who played for the Washington Wizards and Brooklyn Nets in the NBA, was naturalized by the Philippines in 2014 and played for various FIBA sanctioned tournaments.
He will also be playing in the upcoming Champions Cup but will be representing his Chinese club Xinjiang Fliying Tigers.
Aris Ignacio is from the Philippines and has always been a big fan of Philippine basketball. Aris' follows the Philippine Basketball Association since the late 80's and has learned the history and personalities of the PBA. He also has interest with other basketball tournaments in the Philippines and beyond most specifically college basketball (UAAP, NCAA), the Asian Basketball League (ABL), FIBA Asia and World Cup tournaments. Follow Aris Ignacio on Twitter at aris_ignacio.
