No Gilas stint for Clarkson this year but SBP remains hopeful

MANILA, Philippines -- With Los Angeles Lakers Fil-Am guard Jordan Clarkson a no go in the 2015 FIBA Asia Men's Championship, the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) will let the eligibility issue rest for now and instead focus on Gilas Pilipinas' bid to to return to the Olympics. 

The country's basketball federation will now approach Clarkson's eligibility process with a wait-and-see attitude.

"Pahinga muna re: (Clarkson) eligibility.  No rush for now. Salamat sa suporta. We gave it a good try," SBP executive director Sonny Barrios told Philstar.com in a text message from Geneva, Switzerland after a marathon meeting with the FIBA officials on Tuesday morning (Tuesday night in Manila).

The SBP released an official statement to all media outlets shortly after Tuesday's deadline of submission of final lineup explaining that the eligibility issue on Clarkson needs more time to be sorted out.

"We did all that we could to have Jordan Clarkson join Gilas for the 2015 FIBA Asia Championship but we are saddened to report that we are not able to beat the deadline to secure the necessary clearances on time," the SBP said in a statement released to media on Tuesday night. "Although we pushed the boundaries whenever possible, this process cannot be rushed if it were to be done properly."

SBP exhausted all possible means to get Clarkson included in the Gilas' lineup this year with SBP officials Ricky Vargas and Pato Gregorio forging goodwill with the Lakers management in a meeting at the team's headquarters last week in Los Angeles and Barrios flying to FIBA headquarters to personally submit Clarkson's documents. 

With Clarkson not yet eligibile to represent the country this year, he may now focus on building on his stellar rookie season with the Lakers where he is set to enter the final year of his rookie contract. 

The SBP though remains hopeful that it will get the necessary clearance to include Clarkson in future Gilas programs as a regular player. 

"The interest and passion of Jordan Clarkson himself with the full support of his family, to  don  the  Gilas  jersey  serves  as  a  reason  for  SBP  to  be  hopeful. Though the doors on the 2015 FIBA Asia meet have been closed, the future of the national team program is encouraging with Clarkson’s desire to represent flag and country," the statement added. 

To further fan the country's chance to get Clarkson on board in the future, the SBP will lobby to FIBA to synchronize its Asian zonal tournaments with the NBA calendar to avoid conflict of schedules.

Had Clarkson been cleared by FIBA before Tuesday's deadline, the Lakers sophomore guard was allowed by the management to suit up only until Gilas' first three games in China since the media day and training camp runs will run smack to the tournament's second round and playoffs schedule. 

"The Los Angeles Lakers Management has allowed  Jordan Clarkson  to play  for the Gilas Pilipinas Team as long as it will not conflict with the schedule of the NBA. Unfortunately, under this limitation, Jordan Clarkson can only participate in  the  elimination  phase  of  the  tournament.  This  scheduling  issue  is  distinct only  to  the FIBA Asia Zone, and it does not occur in  the other FIBA zones. By this  token,  we  will  ask  FIBA  Asia  to  consider  holding  the  tournament  in  the same manner as FIBA Americas, Europe, Oceania and Africa do, that is avoiding scheduling conflict with the calendar of the NBA," the SBP statement added. 

For now, Gilas coach Tab Baldwin will have to make do without Clarkson in the final 12-man roster submitted before Tuesday's 5 p.m. deadline. 

The FIBA Asia-bound team will be led by naturalized player Andray Blatche, and Gilas returnees Ranidel de Ocampo, Marc Pingris, Gabe Norwood and Jayson Castro, who all saw action in last year's FIBA World Cup. 

Joining them in the final lineup are veterans Asi Taulava, Sonny Thoss, Dondon Hontiveros and young bloods Matt Ganuelas-Rosser, Calvin Abueva and Terrence Romeo.