(CNN Philippines, January 13) — Still months away from the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup where the Philippines will be co-hosting with Japan and Indonesia in August, Jordan Clarkson said he will be ready when called upon by Gilas Pilipinas.
“Things are gonna get real good, definitely we’ll try to win. I think we got a great group of guys – Kai (Sotto), Dwight (Ramos), everybody that I played with this summer was. It was amazing just being able to spend more time with them. Get out this summer and compete so I’m really looking forward to it and I’m ready,” he told CNN Philippines’ Sports Desk Friday.
If he’s confirmed to see action for Gilas in the FIBA World Cup, Clarkson will be counted as a naturalized player.
There are two other naturalized player options for Gilas – Barangay Ginebra resident import Justin Brownlee, who was recently declared a Filipino citizen, and former Ateneo de Manila University standout Angelo Kouame.
Clarkson, a former NBA Sixth Man of the Year, already suited for Gilas back in the 2018 Asian Games in Indonesia before making his debut in a FIBA-sanctioned match last year against Lebanon and Saudi Arabia.
Clarkson averaged 25 points, 6.5 assists, and 5.5 rebounds for Gilas in the two FIBA World Cup Asian qualifiers window.
For now, Clarkson is focused on helping the Utah Jazz in their playoffs push this season. The Jazz are currently ninth place in the Western Conference with a 21-23 win-loss record.
The 30-year-old guard has been impressive for Utah as a starter, averaging 20.7 points on 45.1 percent shooting, 4.5 assists, and 3.9 rebounds.
“I think for me I’m just very comfortable, I see plays that are happening, the game has slowed down for me a lot, so I’m just you know happy I’m be able to be with this team and compete and win games here,” Clarkson said.
‘ ’17’: ‘assetautoplay’: false ‘assetcontrols’: true ‘assetloop’: false ‘assetmuted’: false ‘assetpreload’: ‘auto’ ’embed’: ‘