SBP eyes Clarkson OK, final 12 roster

TAIPEI – The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas is down to a virtual last-two-minute situation in trying to secure the approval of the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) on the inclusion of Jordan Clarkson in Gilas Pilipinas’ Final 12 for the 2015 FIBA Asia Championship.

The national cage federation has only up to this afternoon to work on the FIBA clearance with the deadline for submission of final lineup to the Changsha meet also set today.

The call on whether it’s a go or not will come from SBP executive director Sonny Barrios who has personally brought up the Fil-Am NBA player case to the FIBA Central general headquarters in Geneva.

The FIBA nod is one of the two requirements for the Los Angeles Lakers’ guard to be able to suit up with Gilas Pilipinas in the coming FIBA Asia event that also serves as regional qualifier for the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics. The other is the approval of LA Lakers head coach Byron Scott.

Talk n Text, the reigning PBA Commissioner’s Cup champion, is taking over from Lebanon in the four-team, three-day MVP Cup set Friday to Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Chinese Taipei and the Wellington Saints of New Zealand complete the cast in the pocket tournament serving as the final warm-up games of Gilas Pilipinas and the Taiwanese for the FIBA Asia Championship.

Lebanon was supposed to participate in the event but pulled out for an unknown reasons. Later, the Lebanese committed to play in a pocket tourney in China then also begged off.

MVP Cup organizers have reportedly invited Barangay Ginebra to take over from Lebanon but the team management declined.

Looking cinch to make the Final 12 are Andray Blatche, Asi Taulava, Sonny Thoss, Ranidel de Ocampo, Marc Pingris, Calvin Abueva, Jayson Castro, Gabe Norwood, Terrence Romeo and Dondon Hontiveros.

Fighting for the other slots are Gary David, JC Intal, Troy Rosario, Matt Ganuelas, Aldrech Ramos and Jimmy Alapag. Moala Tautuaa is a reserved naturalized player.

Gilas coach Tab Baldwin said they will comply with the process of submitting the Final 12 today but will not announce the roster to the public.

“We’ll keep it discreet and continue working together,” Baldwin said.

“We’ll do what we want to do, what’s the best for the team. I’m not in a hurry to make a splash on it, no need,” added Baldwin, also pointing out any team can make a last-minute change during the team managers meeting on the eve of the tourney.

“We’ll submit a lineup but we can change that,” Baldwin said.

But Gilas is likely to submit the best choice to avoid a hefty corresponding penalty on a roster change.

Since SBP’s takeover of national cage leadership, the national team has never made a switch in the roster in a FIBA tourney even once.

Gilas Pilipinas did in the last Asian Games when Blatche was declared ineligible due to residency issue. Coming in to take over from Blatche was Marcus Douthit.

“Lineup change is allowed in case of injuries and it requires an exorbitant fine. So it is avoided,” said an SBP official.

It can be used on Clarkson if he gains the approval of FIBA and his Lakers coach past today’s deadline for submission of the last 12.

Clarkson’s name is included in Gilas’ 24-man roster along with Junemar Fajardo, Paul Lee, LA Tenorio, Bobby Ray Parks and Kiefer Ravena. Anyone of them can be inserted in the final roster in the last minute.