MANILA – Cleveland Cavaliers guard Jordan Clarkson will not play for Gilas Pilipinas in the 2019 FIBA World Cup Qualifier next month.
Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas chairman Manuel Pangilinan and NBA deputy commissioner and COO Mark Tatum have agreed on this, SBP president Al Panlilio told Panay News.
“During Tatum and MVP’s conversation on Tuesday, the SBP was made to choose: Asian Games or FIBA World Cup Qualifier,” Panlilio said.
Earlier the NBA denied Clarkson permission to play for the Philippines in the Asian Games in Indonesia but changed its mind following appeals from the Filipino camp.
But the American league clarified that this will be a “one-time exception” for Clarkson and two Chinese players, Zhou Qi of the Houston Rockets and Ding Yanyuhang of the Dallas Mavericks.
“After consulting with the SBP, MVP informed Tatum that they would rather let … Clarkson play in the Asian Games for him to have a greater exposure as a Gilas player,” said Panlilio.
Moreover, there is no guarantee the Cleveland Cavaliers will allow Clarkson to play in the World Cup Qualifier next month when the new NBA season also draws near, Panlilio added.
With the development, the Philippine men’s basketball team might be forced to have San Miguel Beermen rookie Christian Standhardinger as naturalized player, with center Andray Blatche suspended for three games.
Earlier the NBA insisted that it can lend players only to FIBA-sanctioned tournaments and Olympic qualifiers./PN
