SBP awaits FIBA decision

MANILA, Philippines - The deadline for the SBP to submit Gilas’ 12-man line-up to FIBA Asia falls on Sept. 8 so the presumption is before then, FIBA secretary-general Patrick Baumann will decide whether or not to allow Jordan Clarkson to play for the Philippines at the FIBA Asia Championships in Changsha on Sept. 23-Oct. 3.

FIBA’s clearance isn’t the only stumbling block for Clarkson to play in Changsha. Clarkson’s NBA team, the Los Angeles Lakers, and his family must also agree. With time running out, the SBP is moving heaven and earth to secure the necessary clearances. Clarkson, meanwhile, has expressed willingness to join Gilas. If it doesn’t happen in Changsha, the SBP hopes the engagement will come eventually.

FIBA limits a national team to only one naturalized player but leaves the door open for players with dual nationalities because of lineage. In 2011, FIBA cracked down on countries that “localize” foreigners, zeroing in on Qatar for lining up at least five imports to play at the FIBA Asia Championships in Wuhan. Qatar’s imports were disqualified and it led to two forfeits in the eliminations because of a decimated roster.

For players with dual nationalities, FIBA will allow only one country to be represented but there must be proof of residence, playing years or “any other criteria capable of establishing a significant link between the player and the country for the national team of which he wishes to play.” As FIBA secretary-general, Baumann has the authority to rule on issues of eligibility and may consult the FIBA Legal Commission for advice.

In Clarkson’s case, there is no question he is of Filipino descent. His mother Annette Tullao is from Angeles, Pampanga. Last Wednesday, Clarkson went to Angeles for a reunion with his Filipino relatives. The visit was documented by the SBP and reportedly sent to FIBA as evidence of his Filipino heritage.

Clarkson, 23, arrived in Manila from Los Angeles late Monday night. He attended the Gilas practice at the Meralco gym last Wednesday and Thursday. Clarkson flew to Boracay for a brief vacation yesterday morning and will be back in Manila tonight. He leaves for Taipei tomorrow to join Gilas as an observer at the Jones Cup. Clarkson will stay in Taipei for three days before returning to Los Angeles.

While the FIBA decision is pending, there are plans for SBP executives to confer with Clarkson’s father Mike in San Antonio, Texas, and the Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak in Los Angeles next week. The intention is to assure Clarkson’s father and Kupchak of absolute protection in case the Lakers guard plays for Gilas.

There is concern that Clarkson’s appearance in Changsha may be a risk considering he is entering his second season with the Lakers and will be up for a contract renewal at the end of the campaign. Early this month, Utah Jazz guard Dante Exum suffered a torn ACL in his left knee while playing for the Australian national team in a friendly in Slovenia. As a result, Exum, 20, missed the FIBA Oceania Championships which Australia won in a two-game series over New Zealand. Without Exum, Australia was bannered by four other NBA veterans, namely, Golden State’s Andrew Bogut, Cleveland’s Matthew Dellavedova, Chicago’s Cameron Bairstow and San Antonio’s Patty Mills – all of whom gave their full commitment to the Boomers.

The expectation is if Clarkson performs above par this coming season, he’ll be rewarded with a multi-year contract of about $50 Million. The probability of jeopardizing his career with a major injury in Changhsa is extremely low. At the FIBA World Cup in Spain last year, none of the dual-citizen players came down with an injury. The list included Ukraine’s Eugene Jeter, South Korea’s Cameron Stevenson, Greece’s Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks, Brazil’s Larry Taylor, Spain’s Serge Ibaka of the Oklahoma City Thunder, Croatia’s Oliver Lafayette, Finland’s Erik Murphy, Angola’s Reggie Moore and the Philippines’ Andray Blatche. There is a much higher probability that Clarkson’s global stature and career will be enhanced with Gilas. In the Philippines, he is now a national figure.

“Jordan wants to play for Gilas,” said an SBP source. “When he arrived last Monday, he came with documents to certify his mother is a Filipina, including her birth certificate, driver’s license and ID cards. He wouldn’t have done it if there was no desire to play for Gilas. All the documents have been forwarded to FIBA.”

A scheduling conflict looms if Clarkson is cleared to play for Gilas. He is required to attend the Lakers’ Media Day in Los Angeles on Sept. 30, a break day in Changsha. But even if Clarkson flies back to Changsha on a private jet right after Media Day, he will miss the knockout quarterfinals on Oct. 1. The knockout quarterfinals will decide the four teams to enter the semifinals.