Hardeman tapped to bolster Perlas

MANILA, Philippines - Kelly Hardeman, a former NCAA Division II All-American with the Asuza Pacific University women’s basketball team, has agreed to play for the Philippines – where she was born and raised – at the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Kuala Lumpur on Aug. 19-31.

Under the principle of jus solis, Hardeman is entitled to a Philippine passport without going through the naturalization process in Congress. However, Perlas national coach Pat Aquino said this has still to be confirmed and Hardeman’s eligibility will be subject to approval by FIBA. Hardeman, 23, was born at St. Luke’s Hospital in Quezon City and has lived in the Philippines for 18 years until she enrolled at Asuza Pacific, a private Christian school near Los Angeles.  She is now playing for BK Ameger in the Danish league and will be back in Manila on May 23.

Hardeman’s grandfather Tine, 84, is a chaplain at Faith Academy and has been a Filipino resident since 1958. The 6-4 Tine played in the MICAA, the PBA’s forerunner, for 15 years up to 1972 with PAL, Meralco and Crispa. He initially came to Manila to play on the missionary team Venture For Victory in 1955 and returned three years later, for a permanent assignment at Faith, a Christian international school in Cainta. Hardeman and wife Jan have four children and 14 grandchildren. His son Todd’s daughter is Kelly who graduated high school from Faith in 2012. 

“My grandfather (Tine) is one of my biggest fans and I think it just makes him happy to see me using my God-given abilities and pursuing the sport we both love,” said the 6-foot Hardeman. “I’m sure it will be extra special for my grandfather that I get to play for the Philippines. I’m very excited for this opportunity. The Philippines has and will always be my home. So it’s so special to have the chance to play with Perlas.”

The Philippines has never won a gold medal in women’s basketball in 17 SEA Games since 1977, collecting seven silvers and five bronzes through the years. Last year, the Philippines won the SEABA championship in Malacca, raising expectations of a gold finish in the SEA Games. Aquino also led Perlas to first place in Level II and a promotion to Level I at the FIBA Asia Cup in Wuhan in 2015.

“I’ve seen Kelly play when she was in high school,” said Aquino. “Kelly has long arms and could shoot from anywhere inside and out. She plays two, three or four and with her experience, she will definitely help our team. Both her parents are American and I still don’t know about the naturalization process for foreigners born in our country.”

In four years at Asuza Pacific, Hardeman was a standout, averaging 13.5 points as a freshman in 2012-13, 17.7 as a sophomore, 19.1 as a junior and 17.2 points and 9.2 rebounds as a senior, shooting 44.5 percent from two-point range and 38.3 percent from distance. With BK Amager, Hardeman is averaging 14.4 points, 10.5 rebounds and 32.7 minutes in 24 games, hitting 52.8 percent from two-point range, 25 percent from beyond the arc and 71.1 percent from the line. Last April 8, she had 20 points and 19 rebounds in Amager’s 69-66 win over Stevnsgade.

“Playing basketball at Azusa Pacific was an amazing experience,” she said. “I had some of the best four years of my life there. It’s a great school with an excellent basketball program. Our women’s team was successful all four years and especially in my last season, when we won our conference title.”

Hardeman will leave Denmark on Tuesday and go to California before flying back to Manila. Perlas manager and Blackwater PBA team owner Dioceldo Sy recently broke the news of Hardeman’s recruitment. It turns out that Hardeman’s younger brother Josh is his son Daniel’s teammate, classmate and best friend at Faith. 

“Kelly’s presence will boost our team’s chances to qualify for the Tokyo Olympics in 2020,” said Sy. “Right now, she has an offer to play in Australia. The SBP needs to move fast for FIBA’s approval of her eligibility so she can play in the SEA Games.”