“Our naturalized players who have served the country should at least be given a chance to play with us,” Vargas shared.

This issue sparked after Gilas Pilipinas reinforcements Andray Blatche and Marcus Douthit tweeted their desires to play in the league. 

“I wanna come play,” Blatche tweeted last December 26 while Douthit said “Please tell me the reasons why not. I’m sure they outweigh the bad if there is any.”

The passion of these two naturalized players reached the league and chairman Vargas affirmed that for now the “door is closed” to them, but hopes for them to play in PBA.

“For now, the door is closed [on the possibility] that they become a local player in the pro league. We have not looked at it favorably at the moment,” he explained.

“If they can play in the national team, why can’t they play in the PBA?” he added.