Paving the way

The SBP’s decision to exclude Los Angeles Lakers guard Jordan Clarkson from the Gilas 12-man lineup for the FIBA Asia Championships in Changsha on Sept. 23-Oct. 3 was prudent, smart and forward-looking.

Up to the last minute, the SBP tried to secure clearance from both the Lakers and FIBA for Clarkson to play the duration of the tournament but with no confirmation in sight, it was finally decided to pull back. Last week, SBP executive director Sonny Barrios flew to Geneva to confer with FIBA officials, particularly Ivanka Toteva of the Sport and Eligibility Department, on whether or not Clarkson could play in Changsha. Barrios brought with him documents that FIBA required to establish Clarkson’s eligibility as a Filipino, having obtained a Philippine passport when he was 12.

While Barrios was in Geneva, SBP vice chairman Ricky Vargas and former PBA chairman Patrick Gregorio were in Los Angeles meeting with Lakers president Jeanie Buss, Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak and Clarkson’s father Mike to discuss the rising star’s future in the NBA and with Gilas.

“We all tried, we prayed hard but it came to  a point where we knew it couldn’t happen just yet,” said Gregorio. “From the start, we knew it would be an uphill climb. We did this to start the process for the long haul. While we were all excited about the possibility of Jordan playing in Changsha, our expectations were very much tempered. We’re very sad but this isn’t the end of the story. This is just the beginning.”

In meeting with Kupchak, Vargas and Gregorio were told the Lakers coaches would be consulted on Clarkson’s availability for Changsha. The limitations were Clarkson had to report for Media Day in Los Angeles on Sept. 28 and join his teammates at training camp in Hawaii on Sept. 29-Oct. 7. The SBP officials requested if Clarkson could be excused from training camp for at least three days. The quarterfinals in Changsha will be held on Oct. 1, semifinals on Oct. 2 and final on Oct. 3. Kupchak said he wouldn’t mind Clarkson playing up to when he had to show up for Media Day. That would’ve meant Clarkson playing against Palestine on Sept. 23, Hong Kong on Sept. 24 and Kuwait on Sept. 25. The second round games will be played on Sept. 27, 28 and 29. If Clarkson had to be in Los Angeles by Sept. 28, he would leave Changsha on Sept. 26 which is a rest day in the FIBA Asia calendar.

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It made no sense for the SBP to force the issue because Clarkson would’ve been permitted to play only in the non-critical games against Palestine, Hong Kong and Kuwait. He would’ve missed the rest of the tournament. Coach Tab Baldwin would’ve had to reconfigure his offense and defense to accommodate Clarkson for three non-critical contests then adjust to play the remaining games without the Lakers guard.

Pushing FIBA to clear Clarkson with the Sept. 8 deadline fast approaching was also a shot in the dark. Barrios had all the documents that FIBA required to establish Clarkson’s eligibility but it wasn’t just up to one or two officials to review and adjudicate the case. Because of Clarkson’s high-profile personality, FIBA knew that whatever it decides will be reported all over the world. FIBA wasn’t about to rush things because of a Sept. 8 deadline to submit lineups for the FIBA Asia Championships. It’s a process that the SBP respects and since SBP president Manny V. Pangilinan is a member of the 26-strong FIBA Central Board, he would be the first to disown any attempt to use influence for the sake of clearing Clarkson.

Even for a few games, Clarkson’s inclusion would also be unfair to Baldwin and the players who are painstakingly working hard to build a competitive and cohesive unit for Changsha. Besides, if Clarkson played in the preliminaries, Gilas would be left with 11 men upon his departure so it also made no sense to handicap the roster.

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Then, there was the consideration of Clarkson’s future as an NBA player. Kupchak himself said Clarkson is a star on the rise and his future may be shaped by how he performs this season. Vargas and Gregorio read between the lines and decided that rather than insist on Clarkson playing in Changsha, they would establish a relationship with the NBA franchise over the long term.

Vargas and Gregorio met Kupchak twice and Buss once during their Los Angeles visit. Kupchak gave the SBP officials a tour of the Lakers practice facility in El Segundo. In the meeting with Buss, Pangilinan even phoned from Manila and spoke with the Lakers president. It was 3 in the morning, Manila time, and Pangilinan stayed awake to converse with Buss.

Now that the book is closed on Clarkson for Changsha, Gregorio said it’s time to move on. The country’s consolation is the door remains open for Clarkson to play for Gilas, perhaps at the 2016 Rio Olympics if the Philippines qualifies. The effort to enlist Clarkson for Changsha wasn’t an exercise in futility after all. It paved the way for a stronger relationship with Clarkson himself, his family, the Lakers and FIBA. Clarkson will be missed in Changsha but down the road, the outlook is bright. Sooner or later, Clarkson will wear the Philippine colors as he is committed to do. When that day happens, we will reflect on what SBP did to clear the path and realize that patience and hard work pay off in the end.