Fil-Am Clarkson, darating balik-laro sa Gilas Pilipinas

ni Gerard Arce - @Sports | July 29, 2022

Nakatakdang dumating sa bansa si Utah Jazz guard at Filipino-American Jordan Clarkson sa Agosto 15 upang samahan at matulungan ang national basketball team sa paghahanda sa susunod na window ng FIBA Basketball World Cup Asia qualifiers sa Agosto 25.

Inihayag ni Gilas coach Chot Reyes ang pagbabalik ng dating NBA Sixth man of the Year sa Gilas line up matapos itong mangakong maglalaro para sa World Cyp qualifiers kontra Lebanon at Saudi Arabia sa susunod na buwan.

“He has made himself available. He said he can come in and practice starting August 15,” pahayag ni Reyes patungkol kay Clarkson, subalit nagbabala itong hindi pa siyento-por-siyentong nakasisiguro ang pagdating ni Clarkson hangga’t hindi ito nakakarating sa bansa. “Until he is actually here, we cannot really be a hundred percent. But right now, we are planning with him in the line-up. We are putting together a line-up with Jordan Clarkson part of the line-up.”

Sakaling matuloy ang inaasam na pagbabalik Gilas ni Clarkson ay sasabak ito bilang import ng koponan kontra Lebanon sa Agosto 25 at Saudi Arabia sa Agosto 29 matapos itong maglaro sa Gilas bilang parte ng 2018 Asian Games sa Jakarta, Indonesia.

Sinabi rin ni 6-time PBA Coach of the Year awardee na nakikipag-negosasyon na si Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) team manager Butch Antonio sa pagdating ng 30-anyos na dating Los Angeles Lakers at Cleveland Cavaliers guard. “I know that SBP is talking to his representative, his agent, his management team to fix all the logistics to allow him to come in and play,” saad ni 9-time PBA champion. “It’s not that simple. Maraming issues involved. But that’s where we are right now. He said he made himself available. Now we are doing all we can to make it happen.”