Vice-president for public relations of the Lakers, they have no objection to Clarkson playing in the event but he must be in Los Angeles on September 28. The SBP will look to go back on building around a Gilas Squad that will be spearheaded by Jordan Clarkson, former UAAP MVP Ray Parks Jr., and budding star Kobe Paras.
Advertisement
“Love for country? Well, Jordan has been joining the Philippine team’s practice sessions”, Barrios assured.
“We (Lakers) know that he is over there (in the Philippines) having conversations with the National team and other governing organizations (the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas)”, Black said in an e-mail to Della.
Clarkson. Attempts to make Los Angeles Lakers’ Fil-American sophomore Jordan Clarkson reinforce the Philippine team competing in the coming Olympic qualifying FIBA-Asia Championship took a positive turn when the L. A. National Basketball Association franchise granted the 6-foot-5 two-guard’s request to be temporarily released for the objective.
It will be interesting to see how these young guards play alongside Bryant.
If Clarkson is able to play for the Philippines national team, he will only be able to participate in about half of the tournament due to his obligations with the Lakers. He will also seek permission for him to skip a couple of days of the Lakers’ training camp, pointing out that Clarkson would be in game-shape by seeing action in FIBA Asia. He averaged 11.9 points and 3.5 assists in his rookie season and was named to the All-Rookie First Team.
Earlier this week, the SBP sent shockwaves through the Asian basketball landscape when it revealed that Clarkson, whose mother is Filipina, had fulfilled the basic eligibility prerequisite to play for a country as a dual citizen by having a Philippine passport before the age of 16.
Under Fiba rules, a player would be eligible to play for its home country if he or she has secured a passport before turning 16 years old. However, he emphasized that Jordan Clarkson has just submitted the supporting documents FIBA asked for and he is still waiting for FIBA’s formal approval.
Advertisement
“People must envy us that we are playing for Gilas”, Gregorio added.
