MANILA, Philippines — NBA guard Jordan Clarkson is flying to Manila with his mother Janie, brother Bear and a trainer from his Utah Jazz team to play two games for Gilas in the FIBA World Cup Asia fourth qualifying window this month. Although the Philippines is automatically qualified to play in the World Cup as lead host, bringing in Clarkson for the window is a key step towards building a competitive lineup for the 32-nation conclave on Aug. 25 to Sept. 10 next year.
“Clarkson is definitely coming,” said Gilas head coach Chot Reyes who celebrated his birthday yesterday. “From what I know, he has an urgent appointment in the US on Aug. 15 so will leave for Manila the next day to arrive here on Aug. 18.” Reyes plans to call his first practice on Aug. 15. Gilas will play Lebanon in Beirut on Aug. 25 and Saudi Arabia at the MOA Arena on Aug. 29.
Group A contenders New Zealand, Philippines and India played four games each in the first three qualifying windows then advanced to the second round of three more qualifying windows. The three countries joined Lebanon, Jordan and Saudi Arabia in Group E of the second round. In the fifth window, the Philippines will play Jordan on Nov. 10 and Saudi Arabia on Nov. 13, both on the road. In the sixth and final window next year, Gilas will engage Lebanon on Feb. 24 and Jordan on Feb. 27, both in Manila. There are eight slots allocated to the Asia/Oceania region for the World Cup with two awarded to hosts Philippines and Japan. The third host Indonesia failed to secure an automatic slot because it didn’t reach the quarterfinals at the recent FIBA Asia Cup in Jakarta.
Sources close to Kai Sotto said Clarkson’s entry will be a boost to the 7-3 center’s drive to make it to the NBA. “Kai will be exposed to Jordan’s NBA training regimen and he’ll learn from it,” said the source. “Kai playing with Jordan will be a rich learning experience by itself.” Sotto is awaiting clearance from his Australian team Adelaide 36ers before confirming his participation in the fourth window.
Clarkson, 30, is recognized as a naturalized player by FIBA, not as a local despite his Filipino lineage. The 2021 NBA Sixth Man of the Year awardee made his Gilas debut at the 2018 Asian Games, scoring 28 points in an 82-80 loss to powerhouse China. He went on to tally 25 in a 91-82 setback to Korea then led the charge in beating Japan, 113-80, and Syria, 109-55, as the Philippines finished fifth, its best placing in 16 years. Clarkson will banner the Philippine squad at the 2023 FIBA World Cup.