THE Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas is not giving up on its bid to have Fil-Am NBA star guard Jordan Clarkson suiting up for Gilas Pilipinas as a local.
The federation had learned that some countries were allowed to field overseas-based players as locals despite the fact that they acquired their passports past the age of 16, which is against the controversial FIBA ruling.
“We continue to press it kasi we have gotten some information that some teams have players na may mga passport na nakuha beyond 16 for some reasons, and we wanna understand what just happened there,” SBP President Al Panlilio said on Radyo5 92.3 News FM’s Power and Play program hosted by former PBA commissioner Noli Eala.
“So, we’re looking at other situations that can help us and aid us,” he added.
The 6-foot-5 Clarkson, who was named NBA Sixth Man of the Year last season, saw action for the Yeng Guiao-mentored national squad in the 2018 Jakarta Asian Games after he was given the green light by the NBA and his former ballclub, the Cleveland Cavaliers, on a one-time exception.
Gilas, whose core was made up of Rain or Shine, wound up fifth.
Under FIBA rules, Clarkson is eligible to play for Gilas only as a naturalized player.
The SBP is also pushing for the local status of other Fil-foreign cagers who were previously ruled as naturalized players — Stanley Pringle and Christian Standhardinger.
Panlilio said the SBP will not be deterred in its plans.
“But at the end of the day, these guys are Filipinos, di ba?” he said.“So, we have to continue to push I guess our justification to FIBA.”
The nationals are set to square off with rival South Korea World Cup qualifiers in November.
Clarkson, 29, was drafted 46th overall by Washington in 2014 after stints with University of Tulsa and University of Missouri.
