Embracing global talent, nurturing domestic growth

Filipinos are ecstatic over the country's first basketball gold at the Asian Games in six decades. We triumphed over formidable Asian teams such as Iran, China, and Jordan. However, barely had the excitement subsided when, expectedly, some critics raised concerns. One of them was Iran's basketball team head coach, Hakan Demir, who pointed out what might be seen as the elephant in the room: The inclusion of naturalized players in the Gilas team.

Likewise, a China-based think-tank, the Somali Institute of Chinese Studies, questioned the success of Gilas, suggesting it's dominated by foreign talent like Justin Brownlee and Angelo Kouame, and others in their roster. Interestingly, China also had a naturalized player, Kyle Anderson, playing as Li Kai Er, in the 2023 FIBA World Cup, according to Fastbreak.com.ph.

For the record, there are only two naturalized players on the Gilas Team at the Asiad: Ange Kouame and Justin Brownlee. Incidentally, both were standouts in the games against China and Jordan. Of course, significant contributions also came from the rest of the team, including June Mar Fajardo.

Whenever I encounter someone who is both a nationalist and a purist, I chuckle. One can indeed be a nationalist without being a purist, and can even maintain a cosmopolitan or global outlook. My mild disdain and amused reaction to a purist outlook stem from the fact that when examining the history of developed countries, one would realize that no nation has ever achieved fully-developed status solely on its own.

History is replete with instances where countries that opened their doors to foreign expertise and concepts experienced rapid growth and transformation. Japan is one of those countries. During the Meiji Restoration, Japan recognized the limitations of depending solely on local expertise. Thus, it sent its scholars and experts overseas to learn from the West. They returned home with the best of foreign technologies, methods, and ideas, which were then adapted and integrated into the local context. This 'learn, adapt, and improve' strategy was a significant factor that propelled Japan to the status of a global industrial powerhouse in a relatively short span of time.

This example should inspire us, including in our own sphere of basketball. While developing homegrown talent is commendable, the presence of naturalized players can undeniably enhance the competitive edge of our basketball team.

In the broader scheme of things, the ever-evolving nature of technology and industries in the digital era demands flexibility and adaptability. In national development, as can be likewise applied in basketball, different perspectives, skills, and experiences from across the globe can serve to elevate the standard of our industries and sectors.

Now, learning from foreign talent and ideas is important, but so is developing domestic industries and systems. This brings me to another crucial key to a nation’s development: Combining government wealth with professional know-how. The best and the brightest minds in a country often have great ideas but lack the resources to make them happen. That's where the government can step in. By using its wealth to back professional know-how, big changes can happen faster. Together, they can push the country forward.

However, consider how the government is run in the Philippines in the first place. Independent minds, like economist Cielo Magno who was recently dismissed as Finance undersecretary because she refused to support clearly-flawed government policies, are given little regard here. In this country, talented individuals with brilliant ideas can easily be overshadowed by gossip and scheming sycophants, whose primary focus is to flatter their leader's egos. As a result, other countries are benefiting from our migrating talents.