Clarkson flies back to US after forging Gilas ties

TAIPEI – Fil-Am NBA player Jordan Clarkson has ended his Jones Cup journey with Team Phl, heading back to the US with so much goodwill forged with the SBP leaders and the Gilas Pilipinas players.

In being with the Gilas pool for a week, Clarkson built a good bonding with the Nationals and provided them inspiration with his mere presence behind the Gilas bench.

Clarkson had joined two Gilas practices in Manila and was on hand here to cheer the team in games against Chinese Taipei, South Korea and Spartak-Primorye of Russia.

 “He’s a tremendous inspiration and influence,” said Terrence Romeo.

“He’s concerned not just with the current team but with the program development of Gilas,” said SBP vice chairman Ricky Vargas.

 “He’s sharing his ideas, saying maybe we can pattern our program with USA Basketball, maybe it’s about time to have a long-term program from under-16 level. I said ‘yes we’ve been doing that.’ Then he brought in the idea of playing with Bobby Ray Parks and Kobe Paras,” Vargas also said.

Clarkson suggested bonding sessions he promised to attend to.

 “I’m willing to fly (to the Philippines) if we have a bonding session there. Or you can bring them to LA and I’ll take care of them,” Maynilad/Talk n Text official Patrick Gregorio quoted Clarkson as saying.