Jordan’s possible stint with Philippine 5 excites fans

MANILA, Philippines - A 24-man lineup was submitted by SBP executive director Sonny Barrios to FIBA Asia to make the deadline last Sunday and under FIBA rules, only the players from the roster may be named to the final 12 for the FIBA Asia Championships in Changsha on Sept. 23-Oct. 3.

“It’s a ‘just-in-case’ list,” said Barrios yesterday. “You’ll never know what could happen from now until the submission of the 12-man lineup on Sept. 8. We’re only making sure that in case there are players whom coach Tab (Baldwin) wants to bring in late and they’re available, we’ll be able to suit them up for Changsha.”

The 24-man lineup is composed of Andray Blatche, Jimmy Alapag, Gabe Norwood, Sonny Thoss, Calvin Abueva, J. C. Intal, Aldrech Ramos, Marc Pingris, Jayson Castro, Troy Rosario, Matt Ganuelas, Dondon Hontiveros, Gary David, Ranidel de Ocampo, Moala Tautuaa, Asi Taulava, Terrence Romeo, JuneMar Fajardo, Marcio Lassiter, Paul Lee, Kiefer Ravena, Jordan Clarkson, L. A. Tenorio and Bobby Ray Parks.

The only player in the roster with no Filipino lineage is Blatche who qualifies as a naturalized citizen. Blatche received his Filipino citizenship by an act of Congress and is a Philippine passport holder like every player in the lineup.

Barrios said there’s nothing to lose in lining up Fajardo, Lassiter, Lee and Tenorio.

 The inclusion of Ravena and Parks was a surprise. Ravena will play for Ateneo in the UAAP season starting Sept. 5 while Parks is in the US testing the waters for a possible NBA contract. Another surprise was Clarkson’s inclusion.

“Jordan has expressed a strong desire to play for Gilas,” said Barrios. “Of course, we’ll welcome him with open arms. He’s extremely popular with the Fil-Am community in the US and he has a genuine love for our country which is where his Filipina mother Annette was born. Jordan is proud of his Filipino heritage and every Filipino all over the world is excited about the possibility of him playing for Gilas.”

Clarkson arrived from Los Angeles last night for a visit. He has signed an agreement with Smart Communications as an endorser and will conduct clinics for kids during his stay. Clarkson will join Gilas as an observer at practice for seven days and accompany the team for three days at the Jones Cup in Taipei.

Last May, Clarkson came to Manila and was mobbed by his fans. He never expected the warm reception and saw for himself how Filipinos love basketball with a passion.  “If ever Clarkson plays for Gilas, he’ll be our next national hero,” said a basketball expert. “Imagine a combination of Blatche and Clarkson. They’ll bring the country back to the Olympics after 44 years.”

Barrios said while the possibility of Clarkson playing for Gilas is exciting, he tempered expectations. “Jordan is only 23,” said Barrios. “He’s entering the second year of his Laker contract and we’re excited for him to break out.  After this NBA season, he’ll be in line for a big contract, maybe a multi-year deal that could hit $50 million. He’ll want to focus on the coming season and make sure he’s ready. We know the Lakers are looking out for Jordan’s future as well as his father Mike who’s providing wise guidance in his career. We’re just so happy that Jordan is in town to inspire us, not only Gilas but also the kids who are aspiring to become basketball stars.”

Even if Clarkson is given the green light to play in Changsha, he won’t be able to play the entire tournament as it is mandatory for the Lakers to attend the annual Media Day in Los Angeles on Sept. 30. The Lakers also hold their preseason camp in Hawaii as a tradition right after Media Day. In Changsha, there is no game scheduled on Sept. 30, a break day, with the quarterfinals set on Oct. 1, the semifinals on Oct. 2 and the finals on Oct. 3.

Barrios said the SBP is hoping to establish a long-term relationship with Clarkson. “We’ll sit down with Jordan and discuss the future,” he said. “We want him to be the centerpiece of our Gilas program with Andray, now and in the years to come. As a Fil-Am, we know he’s proud of his Filipino heritage and we also want him to know that we’re proud of him.”