Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 20) — The Gilas Pilipinas men’s basketball team is expected to have a much-needed boost with NBA star Jordan Clarkson reinforcing its lineup in the fourth window of the FIBA Basketball World Cup Asian qualifiers.
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Gilas program director and head coach Chot Reyes bared that the Filipino-American cager is set to play for the national squad next month.
“We also have word that Jordan Clarkson is coming, hoping to join the team as well to play on the 25th and the 29th (of August),” Reyes said in an exclusive interview on PlayItRightTV on Wednesday.
Clarkson’s addition to Gilas could not have come at a better time, after the team’s series of misfortunes on the international stage.
Following a disappointing silver medal finish in the 31st Southeast Asian Games in May, the Philippines failed to reach the FIBA Asia Cup quarterfinals for the first time in 15 years after losing to Japan by 21 points on Tuesday.
Clarkson, a former NBA Sixth Man of the Year awardee with the Utah Jazz, last saw action for Gilas in the 2018 Asian Games in Indonesia.
Tracing his roots in Pampanga through his mother, Clarkson will be listed as a naturalized player in the FIBA World Cup qualifiers.
Reyes, meanwhile, expressed optimism that Kai Sotto would be available for the fourth window after turning down an invitation to suit up in the FIBA Asia Cup. The 7-foot-3 slotman was recently left out in the recent NBA Draft.
“Hopefully, Kai Sotto can make it this time,” Reyes said.
The Philippines holds a 2-2 win-loss card through the first three windows of the FIBA World Cup qualifiers.
Gilas will face Lebanon on Aug. 25 and Saudi Arabia on Aug. 29 to kick off their second round campaign.
