SAP Go keeps faith in Gilas sans Clarkson in Asiad bid

MANILA -- Special Assistant to the President Christopher Lawrence "Bong" Go keeps his optimism on Gilas Pilipinas sans Filipino-American guard Jordan Clarkson to bolster the team for the Asian Games.

"Even with this setback, tuloy pa rin ang laban,” Go said in a statement on Sunday, hours after the decision of the National Basketball Association (NBA) to bar Clarkson from playing for the Philippine team to the Jakarta Asiad men’s basketball tournament.

"I believe in the capabilities and determination of our players and we, as a Filipino people, should continue to rally behind our squad. Our team will go to Jakarta and fight with all our heart," Go added.

He, however, expressed his disappointment over the rule that led to Clarkson failing to get the NBA nod despite getting the approval to play from Cleveland and the Indonesia Asian Games Organizing Committee.

"While we respect their authority over their players, I cannot help but express my dismay over how one seemingly inconsistent rule allowed them to disregard a plea of a whole nation," Go said.

The rule stipulates that NBA players are "unable to participate" in basketball tournaments other than the Olympics, the FIBA World Cup and its qualifying rounds, and in continental championships organized by FIBA.