SBP: Clarkson wants to play for Gilas in Asiad
MANILA, Philippines — The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas on Thursday said there is mutual interest from both Filipino-American NBA cager Jordan Clarkson and the Philippine basketball program regarding a stint in the Asian Games in Jakarta, Indonesia next month.
But the Cleveland Cavaliers guard needs to iron a couple of kinks before fully realizing that dream which is shared by many Filipino spectators.
“He wants to play. He wants to play for Gilas. it's always been his dream to play for Gilas,” SBP president Al Panlilio Thursday after the Philippine Basketball Association’s board of governors huddled for a meeting.
“Eligibility lang ang issue,” the executive added.
.@officialSBPinc’s @APan9, @pbaconnect Commissioner Willie Marcial, and @RoSEPainters Gov. Mamerto Mondragon bare plans for the #Asiad:
— Denison Rey Dalupang (@sonrd) July 26, 2018
???????? team will be:
- Coached by Yeng Guiao
- Comprised of E-Painters core
- 3 #Gilas cadets in consideration
- Pool includes @JordanClarksons pic.twitter.com/7ognduexZm
The 26-year-old cager will be joining the list of 15 players the SBP will submit to the Philippine Olympic Committee. The Indonesian Asian Games Organizing Committee will receive the register and forward it to the Olympic Council of Asia, which will review each athletes’ eligibility.
“We plan to submit (Clarkson's name). It's up to OCA whether he's eligible to play in the Asian Games. Concurrently we're negotiating with him on the possibility of playing in the [Asiad], and also concurrently, he needs to seek permission from the (Cavaliers and the (National Basketball Association),” Panlilio pointed out.
“(Sonny Barriors, SBP’s executive director) wrote [them a letter] last night. The initial indication was okay ang Cleveland but we want to formalize it. NBA has to approve it. If the Cavs say they're OK (with it), most probably the NBA will say (the same),” he added.
The Asiad, unlike the FIBA World Cup, does not impose stringent parameters when it comes to eligibilty.
“He’s really Filipino. Unlike Andray who was naturalized, si Clarkson is really Pinoy,” Panlilio offered.
“Lahat ‘yan sabay-sabay nangyayari,” he said of the hurdles Clarkson ought to overcome. “From an SBP point of view, I’m hoping everything falls into place kasi maraming mga conditions that have to happen to make [him] available.”
The 6-foot-5 Clarkson is a holder of a Philippine passport, reportedly acquiring it at the age of 12.
“We're way past deadline for the INASGOC, and we have to submit to OCA,” Panlilio shared. “Hinahabol namin ‘yun, we're burning the (midnight oil) in SBP [with] our Indonesian friends. We're giving as many names as we can.”
The deadline for the submitting lineups was on June 30.
The Asian Games will be from August 18-September 2 in Jakarta.
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