CONCERNS that NBA standout Jordan Clarkson of the Utah Jazz could not jive with his Gilas Pilipinas teammates for the FIBA World Cup should not be an issue, according to coach Chot Reyes.
Reyes said that with Clarkson’s NBA experience, 17 days should be enough for him to familiarize himself with the team’s plays. Clarkson will don the Philippine jersey as a naturalized player.
“The good thing is he’s not coming in cold. He’s been with us before and knows a little of what we’ve been doing, he knows the guys,” Reyes said last Saturday on the Power and Play program hosted by former PBA Commissioner Noli Eala. “Obviously, he still has to familiarize himself with some players na ngayon niya lang makakalaro. But this is a world-class NBA player who averaged 20 points in the NBA. So, hopefully those concerns could be laid to rest,” he added.
The 6-foot-5 Clarkson is set to arrive from the United States tomorrow instead of yesterday as initially planned.
Reyes said Clarkson is expected to arrive in “basketball shape” and will be in top condition in time for the world cage spectacle the country is co-hosting with Japan and Indonesia from Aug. 25 to Sept. 10.
“Well, number one, he has been working out. We’ve been in constant communication–nag-uusap kami. We’re talking about offenses, concepts, and things,” Reyes said. “I’ve been messaging him about our plans, his role, and he has assured me that he’s in pretty good shape, working out, and working on his skills. The number one thing I expect is he’s in basketball shape.
“Maybe not yet in top game shape, but he will have a couple of weeks to get there, and as you know, for a player of that caliber, that should be enough in terms of basketball playing ability and game shape.”
Gilas is in the homestretch of its build up for the World Cup, seeing action in the Heyuan WUS International Basketball Tournament Guangdong.
The team trounced Iran 76-65 four days ago but absorbed a 64-72 loss to Senegal last Friday. They battled the Senegalese anew at press time last night and will wind up their campaign against the Iranians today.
The Philippine five is bracketed with the Dominican Republic, Italy, and Angola in Group A of the World Cup.
The team needs to finish at least in the top two at the end of the group stage to advance to the next round and boost its bid of becoming the best placed Asian squad to directly qualify for the Paris Olympics next year.
