ALLAN THE MAN

Tournament director Joey Guillermo said the 25-year-old Anderson is set to enroll in a home study program of the General Santos-based school, making him eligible to play for the Wildcats.

“I understand from coach Pol (Torrijos) that he (Gerald) is going to enroll because they have that program na home study. So he is eligible to play,” Guillermo clarified.

“Ang position namin is that as long as any player is eligible to play for the team in their own league, he can play,” Guillermo added.

Philstar.com reported HTC coach Pol Torrijos is fielding Anderson in the Wildcats game against the Maroons, provided the actor is free from his showbiz commitments on that day.

Reports of Anderson playing for the Wildcats came after Filipino boxing champion Manny Pacquiao announced that he has reached an agreement to be the playing-coach of Kia Motors when it makes its PBA debut later this year as one of three expansion franchises.

Like Anderson, Pacquiao is a also a proud son of General Santos City

But unlike Pacquiao, Anderson himself has played competitive basketball before, incidentally, with Holy Trinity during his high school days.

He even won a championship with the Wildcats before getting his break in showbiz when he became one of the ‘housemates’ in the hit reality show ‘Pinoy Big Brother’

Despite his busy schedule, Anderson saw action in several minor leagues and was once considered by NLEX to become part of its line-up for the PBA D-League a few years back.

“There is a history about Gerald as he was part of the juniors champion team of Holy Trinity and he is being considered as part of the line-up for this season. But I understand he is only available this Saturday,” said Guillermo.

The Wildcats are in their maiden stint in the Filoil Premier Cup but are still winless after four games.

Guillermo added HTC only has 12 players out of the maximum 18, making Anderson playing for the Wildcats possible.