Jordan Heading is the only member of the 2021 PBA Gilas draftees not in the current pool in the 2023 FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers’ Quezon City window.
Back on October 20, the 6-foot-2 Fil-Aussie decided to pack his bags, leave the country, and sign with T1 League club Taichung Wagor.
It has caused a rift between Heading and the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas, as the federation has a live contract with him.
And up to this day, the SBP is still in the midst of contesting Heading’s stint in Taiwan.
Photo from Taichung Wagor Suns
“He is still contracted with the SBP and that’s my frustration with Jordan – the commitment he had,” disclosed SBP president Al Panlilio. “It’s something that we wrote to FIBA about.
“The clearances came from FIBA, but there was some misrepresentation that happened because I think the clearance he had was from the US. Maybe the US not clearing with us here in the Philippines, and FIBA not knowing that we have a contract with him… We were actually opposing why we are opposing his Taiwan stint,” he continued.
“We are just awaiting FIBA’s answers to our letter.”
A day after the Suns announced the signing of Heading, the SBP informed both FIBA and the Chinese Taipei Basketball Association that he still has a live contract with the national team that runs until February 28, 2023. Taichung was able to gain clearance on October 24 setting up his December 11 debut.
According to multiple sources closely monitoring the situation, training and playing in bubbles took a toll on Heading’s family life.
A native of Seattle, Washington, the first half of 2021 saw him enter long bubble trainings in Laguna, compete in a bubble in Clark for the 2021 FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers, fly to Belgrade for the Olympic Qualifying Tournament, then again leave the country for Jordan for the King Abdullah Cup.
Photo from FIBA.basketball
This left Jordan’s wife Lauren alone in the country for the majority of the year.
Panlilio perfectly understands this saying that him going back home to his second home Taichung could have been done properly.
Moreover, the federation is not fully closing its doors on a possible Gilas return for Heading.
“There is nothing cast in stone naman. Puwede naman pagusapan yung mga ganiyan. I know his own personal reasons on why he did it pero sana it was done properly. Things pass naman and like in business, things happen,” he said.
“If kailangan namin siya and Chot [Reyes] identifies him as one of the key players that we need to bring in, he’ll talk to him and set it straight.”
Heading is currently 21.3 points, 4.7 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 1.3 steals per game in the inaugural T1 season.
