Jordan Clarkson unlikely to play for Gilas in Olympic qualifiers —SBP

The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas will no longer pursue Los Angles Lakers guard Jordan Clarkson's inclusion in the Gilas Pilipinas squad that will compete in Olympic qualifying tournament in Manila in July.

"There's no definite ruling that he cannot qualify as a local, but we will work on it if we want to pursue it. But for now, we prefer not to dwell on it," Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas executive director Sonny Barrios told reporters.

The Filipino-American NBA sophomore has expressed his willingness to play for the Philippine national team in international tournaments, but his eligibility is yet to be cleared by the FIBA central board.

The SBP earlier submitted documents to the board to push for Clarkson's eligibility to play as a local. His mother, Annette Davis, is a Filipino with roots in Angeles, Pampanga.

With only three months remaining until the wild card qualifiers, SBP president Manny V. Pangilinan said that tapping Clarkson's services was a long shot.

"Si Clarkson will have to go through some process, documentation, and all that. Saka masalimuot e, we have to go through several hoops and that will take time," said the long-time Gilas Pilipinas patron.

Pangilinan said that arranging Clarkson's availability is complicated because he is an active NBA player, with approval needed from his family, his agent, his team, and the league itself.

"We don't know whether he will have enough time to be here to prepare for the event. Safer choice na si [Andray] Blatche," he said.

MVP said Blatche, who is already a naturalized Filipino, could already suffice as the national team's reinforcement because of his size and his familiarity with head coach Tab Baldwin's system.

Fans had hoped both players would be able to suit up for Gilas Pilipinas, as Clarkson was revealed to have acquired a Philippine passport before he turned 16 making him eligible to play as a local under FIBA rules. —NB, GMA News