BY ADRIAN STEWART CO
MANILA – Filipino-American guard Jordan Clarkson assured of his return as Gilas Pilipinas’ naturalized player for the 2023 FIBA World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the country with Japan and Indonesia.
The Utah Jazz guard has committed to arrive in the Philippines six weeks before the formal World Cup competition next year to join the national men’s basketball team’s preparation.
“Yeah,” Clarkson said when asked about his Gilas Pilipinas commitment to the FIBA World Cup. “We still have 360 days. We got some time to prepare and get ready for all of that.”
The just-concluded fourth window of the 2023 FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifier was Clarkson’s second stint with the Gilas Pilipinas after suiting up during the 2018 Asian Games in Indonesia.
The one-time NBA Sixth Man of the Year awardee had solid numbers in his Gilas return as he delivered 27 points in the national men’s basketball team’s close 85-81 defeat to Lebanon last week.
Clarkson bounced back with a 23-point performance, including five outside conversions, in Gilas Pilipinas’ 84-46 domination of Saudi Arabia on Monday night at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
“It’s big, us as a team, just getting together the last couple of weeks and me coming in just five times and getting ready quick, this will get us ready for the World Cup next year,” said Clarkson.
“Seeing Kai Sotto, Carl (Tamayo), you know those guys right there, Dwight (Ramos), they’re just talented players,” he added. “For us, this is bright. We’re just getting this team together. We got some good young stars on the team.”
The 30-year-old Clarkson also shared that an added motivation for his national men’s basketball team return is his Filipina grandmother from Pampanga, who passed away some years ago.
“I know you are all looking at the bigger picture but a lot of this is from my grandmother who passed away two or three years ago. I’m just trying to carry her name, make her proud,” Clarkson said.
“She’s been through a great amount of stuff to be the woman she was and to carry the family as she did, so that’s probably one of the reasons why I still do this. I represent the flag and represent the country to this day,” he added./PN
