The Basketball Federation insists that it counts on Jhivan Jackson for the future of the National Team

The National Teams Committee of the Puerto Rico Basketball Federation will evaluate this week whether or not to recommend granting the request to change the sports citizenship of the owner Jhivvan Jackson, who on Sunday made public his desire to represent the Panamanian national team.

The recommendation will then go to the Federation Executive Committee to determine a final decision on whether or not to retain the rights of Jackson, the grandson of the veteran Puerto Rican leader. Flor Melendez and son of former Panamanian player Leroy Jackson.

“It is not my decision, it is an institutional decision. As the Federation that we are, an entity where there are multiple people that make it up, because we want everyone to participate in the decision”, said Yum Ramos, federative president, in a call with the media.

If the Federation decides to retain the player, the request for a change of citizenship would go to the International Basketball Federation (FIBA), which will listen to all parties to make a decision based on its regulations.

Jackson was part of the national program and has already represented the island with its youth teams. On Sunday, the University of Texas at San Antonio graduate released a letter explaining her desire to represent his father’s country. The selected one is directed by Meléndez.

“I am the son of a Puerto Rican mother and a Panamanian father. Both have instilled in me the love of my roots, both Puerto Rican and Panamanian. I have been able, during my life, to enrich myself with both cultures that have made me a better person. So this decision, which I know will mark my life and my career, has been very difficult for me, ”he wrote.

Denied invitations

In written expressions, the general manager of the Puerto Rican adult program, Carlos Arroyo, indicated that Jackson refused to participate in a private camp this month, more in an upcoming talent tournament in the Bahamas. Arroyo did not report which players were going to participate in both calls.

“I had a conversation with Jhivan and his parents where I told them that Jhivann is part of our future and it is in our interest to continue developing it. The priority of our program is in players who went through the same process that Jhivan has to go through at the time, ” Arroyo reported.

“Part of my job is to continue evaluating the new generation that is coming up, but if you don’t give me the opportunity to see it up close, it complicates the process. No player can be deprived of playing for the country he wants to represent. At the same time, you can’t force him to play for a country he doesn’t want to represent,” he added.

According to Ramos, Jackson was also invited to the calls for the Lima 2019 Pan American Games, plus the World Cup in China that year, but he could not go. Subsequently, he had an injury last summer, for which he was not called up for the Olympic Repechage.

“That same injury was afflicting him, so he could not join the November window in Chihuahua, Mexico. It seems to me that the medical discharge was given after the February 2022 window. For this reason, we are in talks for some projects and camps to continue monitoring it closely so that it continues to be part of the program,” Ramos explained.

“Jhivvan is a player with a lot of projection, with a great collegiate career. The minor categories dominated them. I think he has always been a player with scoring power. They are players that you are always evaluating, that the Selection Committee has been evaluating. We have counted on him in the past and was planning to continue seeing him. We always knew that it could be a possibility (to ask to play with Panama). Each player makes the decision he understands is best for his future. We want players who want to represent the program. There is no personalism. We wish Jhivvan the best. We would have liked him to have remained representing the country”, he expressed.

Ramos avoided reacting to Meléndez’s statements on social networks. The coach wrote that his grandson could not continue waiting for a call for the adult team. Jackson was not called up for next month’s window.

“These are their expressions and we respect them. We have no comment regarding what Flor has said. I don’t know if he says it as a leader, or as a grandfather. We respect his opinion, ”Ramos concluded.