It’s been three years since Jordan Clarkson donned the colors of Gilas Pilipinas for the first and only time.
And he can’t wait for more.
According to the 28-year-old combo guard for the Utah Jazz, he wants to represent the country again in an international campaign and “win something.”
“Yeah, that’s definitely something I want to do.
“Hopefully, everything lines up and I’m free that time. And that moment, I’ll put that Gilas jersey back on and go win us something,” he told The Game.
During the 2018 Asian Games, the team called up Clarkson to “redeem the country” after the fracas that involved Gilas and the Australian Boomers.
Despite him averaging 26.0 points, 6.5 rebounds, 5.5 assists, and 1.0 steals — and playing alongside Christian Standhardinger and Stanley Pringle — Gilas could only muster a fifth-place finish during the quadrennial meet.
“I thought we could’ve won the whole thing,” he recalled.
It remains unknown how Clarkson will be classified in FIBA-sanctioned games.
According to him and his father, Clarkson — who was born in Tampa, Florida — had already gotten his Philippine passport before the age of 16. However, FIBA would not budge.
Despite Clarkson’s situation, the Filipino fans have always supported him, going to social media to comment on his posts.
Those are the things that fuel Clarkson in his journey in the NBA.
“I feel it all the time. I always see the flag, puso, everything. Just love and support every time I check my phone, it’s amazing,” said Clarkson, who is averaging 17.5 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 2.3 assists for the Jazz.
“Last year, I had a bunch of All-Star votes for me. Hopefully next year, I put on another great campaign and you guys vote me in the All-Star Game if I play at that level.”
