Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — The Philippine team is shaping up for the upcoming FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament (OQT) in two months, but unfortunately for them one of the more talented Filipino cagers has to watch from the sidelines.
Filipino-American NBA guard Jordan Clarkson will not be suiting up for the Philippines come July, and Gilas Pilipinas head coach Tab Baldwin could not help but express his disappointment.
“I just think he (Clarkson) is a great young kid, and it is a real shame that he isn’t playing for the Philippines,” said Baldwin after the launch of the national team kit on Saturday.
According to FIBA rules, players are required to obtain the passport of the nation they intend to represent internationally before they turn 16.
The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) has previously said that they were in the process of proving that Clarkson did obtain a Filipino passport before the age of 16.
The 23-year-old Clarkson, whose mother is of Filipino heritage, has just concluded his second season with the Los Angeles Lakers.
But with the FIBA OQT looming closer, Clarkson is nowhere closer to representing the Philippines.
“I think FIBA needs to wake up to the reality that there are a lot of good basketball players in this world who should have rights to citizenship to a lot of countries,” said the American-New Zealander coach. “Just because they might live there or train there, that does not mean that their heritage does not belong to another country.”
Clarkson has trained with the national team, but has yet to play in any competition.
“I think that the world of basketball is a little bit robbed by the fact that we don’t see those players on the court playing international basketball,” said Baldwin.
Read: Jordan Clarkson: PH has good chances in FIBA qualifiers
Aware of FIBA’s challenges
Despite being critical of FIBA’s eligibility requirements, Baldwin did recognize the task that the governing body has in order to curb cheating in the sport.
“However, I do understand the challenges that they have too,” he said. “There have been too many cases in the past where countries have tried to bend the rules in their favor or get around the rules.”
Though he acknowledges that FIBA has to enforce restrictions, Baldwin says it is unfortunate that the rules are a stumbling block preventing Clarkson from representing his country.
Also Read: Gilas to bring in Blatche instead of Clarkson for FIBA OQT— MVP
