HAVING Fil-Am guard Jordan Clarkson should prop up Gilas Pilipinas’ bid in the FIBA World Cup next year.
But how the former NBA Sixth Man of the Year winner of the Utah Jazz will play beautiful music with his teammates is a concern for nationals coach and program director Chot Reyes.
That explains why Reyes is set to field in Clarkson in the fourth window of the World Cup Asian qualifiers against Lebanon in Beirut on Aug. 25 and Saudi Arabia four days later on home soil.
“For example, now, we’ll take a look at Jordan Clarkson. Can he play with Thirdy Ravena, Ray Parks, and the other PBA guys?” Reyes posed last Saturday on Radyo5 92.3 News FM’s Power and Play program hosted by former PBA Commissioner Noli Eala. “We are confident it will help us in 2023.”
Another question gnawing at Reyes is whether the 6-foot-5 Clarkson will suit up as a local for Gilas.
“Jordan Clarkson has already committed that he is going to be available for the World Cup. Will he be the final naturalized player?” Reyes said. “That remains to be seen. Ayoko naman magsalita ng patapos.”
Clarkson, 30, saw action for the Yeng Guiao-mentored Gilas crew in the 2018 Jakarta Asian Games after he was given the green light by the NBA and the Cleveland Cavaliers, his former club, on a one-time exception.
Under FIBA rules, Clarkson is eligible to play for Gilas as a naturalized player..
Reyes maintained Clarkson will be a big boost for the team that has underwhelmed recently.
“It’s kinda hard to keep a talent like Jordan Clarkson if he’s available and not be on the team,” he said.
“More importantly, he has committed to a four to six-week practice time for the run up to the World Cup. Para sa mga kababayan natin, relax lang kayo.”
The Philippine five wound up ninth and missed the quarterfinals of the FIBA Asia Cup last week in Jakarta for the first time since 2007.
With Reyes also calling the shots, Gilas failed to win the gold that matters most to Filipinos in the 31st Southeast Asian Games in Vietnam last May.
