THE Gilas Pilipinas national team training pool will see action in the Heyuan WUS International Basketball Tournament in China without NBA standout Jordan Clarkson of the Utah Jazz and 7-foot-3 center Kai Sotto.
The event kicks off today as Senegal takes on Iran at the Heyuan Sport Gymnasium.
Gilas takes on Iran, a 2020 Tokyo Olympics qualifier, tomorrow at the same venue.
On Friday, Gilas takes on Senegal at the Jiangman En Ping Sport Gymnasium.
National coach Chot Reyes said the 6-foot-5 Clarkson is set to arrive from the United States on Aug. 8 instead of Aug. 6.
“He won’t play in China. He might just go straight here in Manila,” Reyes said before they left for Guangdong yesterday. “We thought he was arriving on Aug. 6, but now he’s leaving (Los Angeles) on Aug. 6. (He) should be arriving on Aug. 8,” he added.
Reyes is convinced Clarkson could promptly jell with his teammates despite having less than three weeks to do so before the FIBA World Cup unfurls.
“Jordan’s role will be huge. It’s not like he’s coming in blind or he’s coming in for the first time. He knows what we’re doing, he’s an NBA player, he’s a professional,” Reyes said.
“Yes, there will be a lot of adjustment that needs to be done, a lot of familiarity, but he’s not coming in blind.”
Sotto’s case is different. He showed up in practice last Monday but only watched from the sidelines, reportedly nursing a back injury.
“I think that’s a better question to ask of him rather than me. I refuse to comment on it anymore. The best person to ask is team manager Butch Antonio. He’s the one in negotiations with their camp,” he said. “He was in practice yesterday but he’s not here.”
Reyes’ charges are bracketed with the Dominican Republic, Italy, and Angola in Group A of the Aug. 25 to Sept. 10 blue ribbon world cage spectacle.
