Phl team begins Asiad campaign
Battles Kazakhstan, but Clarkson won’t make it in time
Three days ahead of the opening ceremonies, the Philippine quintet starts the campaign of the 272-strong Phl team in the 18th Asian Games as the Nationals take on Team Kazakhstan in the opener of Group D play in men’s basketball competition at the GBK Basketball Hall in Jakarta, Indonesia.
The Nationals square off with the Kazakhs in a virtual knockout setto where coach Yeng Guiao will have to make do with 11 PBA players as Fil-Am NBA player Jordan Clarkson isn’t expected to arrive in the Indon capital in time for the game.
But just the clearance the Cleveland Cavaliers guard got from the Olympic Council of Asia, the Indonesian Asian Games Organizing Committee and the NBA could well be a big boost for the entire Philippine delegation competing in 31 sports disciplines in the 45-nation continental conclave.
“It’s final. The NBA gave one time exception for this Asian Games for Clarkson and two players from China,” said Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas president Al Panlilio.
However, even the earliest flight available won’t make Clarkson available for the Phl-Kazakhstan match at 10 a.m.
But at least, the Cleveland Cavaliers guard can do the honors of being the flag bearer during the opening ceremonies at the Gelora Bung Karno Main Stadium Saturday and will finally don the country’s colors as Team Phl clashes with China on August 21.
Guiao vowed they would make do with what they have to get the country to a winning start in the meet. At his disposal for the Kazakh game are Rain or Shine players Gabe Norwood, James Yap, Maverick Ahanmisi, Chris Tiu, Beau Belga and Raymond Almanzan, San Miguel Beer’s Christian Standhardinger, NLEX’s Asi Taulava, North Port’s Stanley Pringle, Blackwater’s Poy Erram and Magnolia’s Paul Lee.
A heavy volume of Filipino bets is in transit as the Phl 5 plunges into action in the Jakarta Games where around 10,000 athletes slug it out in 465 events in 40 sports.
The gymnasts and the netters were to depart Manila yesterday to be followed by athletes from taekwondo, wushu, golf, shooting, wrestling, swimming, women’s softball and fencing today.
Flying out on the eve of the opening rites are the 15-strong bowling team, heading for Palembang, the capital of the South Sumatra province which hosts bowling, tennis, soft tennis, women’s football, rowing, triathlon, sepak takraw, sports climbing, beach volleyball, shooting and roller sports.
Jakarta is the main venue while the provinces of Banten and West Java also serve as satellite venues.—