Although nothing is cast in stone, Jordan Clarkson’s inclusion in Gilas Pilipinas in the 19th Asian Games is in doubt.
No less than Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas president Al Panlilio cast serious doubt over Clarkson’s availability, saying that his duty with the Utah Jazz in the National Basketball Association could bar him from making another appearance in the Asian Games.
The Asian Games are set in Hangzhou, China from 23 September to 8 October.
But during that time, NBA teams are already busy as they would be preparing for the opening of the 2023-2024 season on 24 October, including training camps, media events and preseason matches.
Panlilio said they haven’t formally discussed it yet but it would be very hard to bring back Clarkson, who led the Philippines to a fifth-place finish in the 18th Asian Games in Jakarta in 2018.
“Asian Games can reach until October? Normally, NBA preseason is around that time, right?” Panlilio said in a message to Daily Tribune.
“So, I am assuming that it might be a challenge. But we haven’t discussed it at all.”
In a previous Tribune report, Gilas head coach Chot Reyes confirmed that naturalized player Justin Brownlee will reinforce them in the Asian Games following his heroic performance in the 32nd Southeast Asian Games.
After all, the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup will be done around that time while the Philippine Basketball Association will not open until the third or last week of October.
“Yes,” Reyes said when Tribune asked if Brownlee will return for another tour of international duty in the Asian Games.
Schedule wasn’t a big deal the first time Clarkson suited up for the Philippines in the Asian Games five years ago.
The Games, in fact, were held from 18 August to 2 September, making it possible for him to reinforce the Filipinos as a local player while Christian Standhardinger and Stanley Pringle took turns in serving as naturalized players.
With that, Clarkson can just focus on the World Cup, which is set from 25 August to 10 September in Manila, Jakarta and Okayama.
According to SBP executive director Sonny Barrios, Clarkson had committed to join Gilas at least six weeks before the World Cup, giving him ample time to blend in with his local teammates.
