Having naturalized players Jordan Clarkson and Justin Brownlee sharing the court in the FIBA Basketball World Cup may sound exciting.
But for Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas president Al Panlilio, it seems impossible.
In a Viber message to Daily Tribune, Panlilio admitted that it would be impossible to parade two naturalized players — Clarkson and Brownlee — when the country hosts the prestigious 32-nation basketball event from 25 August to 10 September.
“I don’t think that’s possible,” Panlilio said.
The idea of having both Clarkson and Brownlee leading Gilas Pilipinas in the World Cup was first broached up by Philippine Basketball Association chairman Ricky Vargas during the league’s board meeting in Paris few weeks ago.
Vargas, the governor of TNT Tropang Giga, said while Clarkson will earn the lone roster spot reserved for naturalized player, Brownlee can also see action through the residency rule.
After all, the 6-foot-6 Brownlee has been in the country since 2016 and had led Barangay Ginebra San Miguel to six PBA titles while winning three Best Imports honors.
“You have a beautiful scenario when you can have both,” Vargas told sportswriters at the sidelines of the PBA planning session.
“It’s worth a try, right? So, why not?”
Vargas said the federation should start reaching out to the International Basketball Federation if the 35-year-old Brownlee, who became a naturalized Filipino only last January, will be allowed to compete.
He, however, is not privy on the eligibility rules of the world-governing body or how the federation will push through with its appeal.
“But the question is: Is it possible? So that falls on the head of the SBP if it’s possible,” Vargas said.
The presence of both Clarkson and Brownlee will be a major boost to Gilas, who are scrambling for warm bodies as their key personnel are nursing various injuries.
Although they were present since the restart of the training of the pool, Filipino-Cypriot AJ Edu and Poy Erram suffered separate ankle injuries.
Japan B. League players Ray Parks and Jordan Heading had yet to show up in the workouts as they’re also battling injuries.
Parks, who played in the previous windows of the World Cup Asian Qualifiers, hurt his hand during the tailend of the B. League season while Heading is currently in the United States to undergo rehabilitation.
Also on the injured list are TNT Tropang Giga stars Roger Pogoy and Calvin Oftana.
Pogoy fractured his pinky during the season-ending Governors’ Cup title series against Ginebra while Oftana hurt his calf during Gilas’ first game in the recent 32nd Southeast Asian Games.
The pool has been reduced to 20 following the decision of newly-crowned B. League champion Carl Tamayo of the Ryukyu Golden Kings to pull out due to knee injury.
But can Gilas add a few more players in the pool?
“I think it’s still a possibility,” Panlilio said.
“But at the same time, we want continuity. We want the players we had in the previous windows to play (in the World Cup).”
