Jordan Clarkson’s Gilas Pilipinas debut will have to wait another day.
The 26-year-old Filipino-American came so close to finally joining the Philippine Men’s National Basketball Team for the 2018 Asian Games.
After being named to the team last Friday, the Indonesian Asian Games Organizing Committee quickly approved the addition of the 6-foot-5 guard. The Cleveland Cavaliers also gave their thumbs up.
However, the National Basketball Association ultimately rejected it, citing that the Asian Games is a non-FIBA sanctioned tournament.
And this broke the hearts of not just the Filipino fans, but also Clarkson himself.
“I am terribly disappointed to say that I have not received the required consent to participate in the upcoming Asian Games with our National Team,” he posted on his official Facebook page.
“Although I will not be there in person, I will be with my Gilas teammates in heart and spirit.”
But the NBA has cleared the four-year pro to join the second round of the 2019 FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers. It is still unknown if Clarkson will be classified as a local or as a naturalized player.
Still, the Tampa, Florida-born cager is looking forward to the time when he can finally don the country’s colors.
“Despite this, my desire and ambition to play with my countrymen in the future remains resolute and I am adamant that this dream will come true!”
