Sorry setback
It’s getting unclear
Forget about Jordan Clarkson.
Head coach Yeng Guiao formally ruled out the possibility of having Clarkson suiting up for Gilas Pilipinas in the FIBA Basketball World Cup in Foshan, China.
In an interview with Daily Tribune, Guiao admitted that talks among all parties involved like the International Basketball Federation (FIBA), the Cleveland Cavaliers, Clarkson’s camp and Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) are not progressing with barely two weeks left before the prestigious 32-nation showpiece erupts on 30 August. Clarkson is no stranger to Philippine brand of basketball. In fact, he already played as a local player in the 18th Asian Games last year, powering the Filipinos to a fifth-place finish, which is their best performance since emerging fourth in the Busan edition in 2002.
But the FIBA tournament is a different story. In FIBA tourneys, a competitor must secure the passport of the country he wishes to represent before he turns 16 years old, a provision that the high-flying Cavaliers playmaker failed to satisfy.
And should the federation really want Clarkson to suit up, he would be classified as a naturalized player — a role that has been long reserved for former NBA campaigner Andray Blatche.
In a previous statement, SBP said it is “silently working” on having Clarkson on board as a local player. After all, the NBA is on a break and most of its players will be playing for their respective countries like the United States, Spain, Serbia, Italy and Australia.
But Guiao admitted that things are not looking good as far as negotiations are concerned.
“It’s getting unclear,” said Guiao in a telephone conversation. “The tournament is just two weeks away and we have yet to get updates on Jordan’s availability. I think we have to move on. Time is no longer on our side. We have to prepare and do our best with the available talents that we have.” Clarkson could have provided Gilas a major boost. Brandishing a deadly combination of speed, skills, power and basketball IQ, Clarkson took the Asian Games by storm, averaging 26 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 5.5 assists for the Nationals, who fielded him as a local player while Filipino-American Stanley Pringle and Filipino-German Christian Standhardinger took turns in using the naturalized player spot.
Shortly after the tourney, the 27-year-old cager expressed willingness to suit up for the Filipinos anew should they make it to the World Cup.
Guiao said with Clarkson and Blatche at the firing end, their chances of advancing past the first round would be better.
“Having Jordan and Andray playing together for Gilas Pilipinas would definitely be the highlight of my coaching career,” said Guiao in a previous statement shortly after including Clarkson in the 19-man pool.
“If they will play together, we have a chance of emerging with two wins. We really have a fighting chance.”
But with Clarkson no longer an option, Guiao has to make do with the available players he has.
Blatche leads the pool together with five-time Most Valuable Player June mar Fajardo, Japeth Aguilar Raymond Almazan, Poy Erram, Troy Rosario, Gabe Norwood and Beau Belga to cover the frontcourt.
Paul Lee, Mark Barroca, Roger Pogoy, Kiefer Ravena, Matthew Wright, and rookies CJ Perez and Robert Bolick, meanwhile, will headline the backcourt with Standhardinger and Pringle included as backup naturalized players.
Marcio Lassiter is also still doubtful after suffering a tear on his medial collateral ligament midway in the recently concluded Philippine Basketball Association Commissioner’s Cup.
“Marcio’s slot is not something that we’re looking a replacement for,” he said.
“We have 19 players in the pool so they all have to fight for it. We’re not really looking for an individual replacement.”
We have to prepare and do our best with the available talents that we have.