Will Clarkson join Gilas in Olympic qualifier?

MANILA, Philippines - Now that it’s settled that the Philippines will play in one of three Olympic qualifying tournaments and is bidding to host the six-team competition in July next year, the big question is whether or not Los Angeles Lakers guard Jordan Clarkson may join Gilas in the final push for a ticket to Rio de Janeiro.

Clarkson, 23, has reportedly been cleared by FIBA to suit up for the Philippines as a naturalized player. That means Clarkson’s Philippine passport has been recognized by FIBA. But the SBP is seeking approval for Clarkson to be enlisted as a local since after all, he was issued his Philippine passport when he was 12. The FIBA rule for the eligibility of a dual citizen is he must have been issued a passport of the country he is playing for before turning 16.

SBP executive director Sonny Barrios took a trip to the FIBA head office in Mies, Switzerland, to personally submit Clarkson’s documents to certify his Philippine citizenship last September.  While Barrios conferred with FIBA officials, SBP vice chairman Ricky Vargas and former PBA chairman Patrick Gregorio flew to Los Angeles to discuss with Lakers president Jerry Buss and general manager Mitch Kupchak the possibility of Clarkson playing at the FIBA Asia Championships in Changsha. As it turned out, the SBP ran out of time to secure the clearances although headway was made in enlisting Clarkson for the future.

If Clarkson is good to go as a naturalized player, Gilas will be spared the tedious process of going through Congress for the approval of his citizenship. Legislation, however, is not necessary in Clarkson’s case because he is a dual citizen by virtue of his mother Annette Tullao being a Filipina. Since Gilas has a naturalized player Andray Blatche in the lineup, the goal is to add Clarkson as a Fil-Am local like a Gabe Norwood or a Marcio Lassiter.

“It was too late for the SBP to process Jordan’s application to play as a local with FIBA,” said an SBP source. “Besides, Jordan had his commitments with the Lakers. So it was decided to hold off and move on.”

As the Olympic qualifying tournaments are scheduled in July, the NBA will have finished its regular season and playoffs by then, making Clarkson available to play for Gilas. The SBP source said there are no talks so far with SBP president Manny V. Pangilinan on pursuing Clarkson’s application with FIBA as a local player or his clearance from the Lakers. “Of course, MVP should be OK to explore how to strengthen the Gilas team further,” added the source.

If Clarkson’s case is pursued, the SBP hopes FIBA will understand the situation of Filipino migrants all over the world. “We’re not a country that makes foreigners overnight citizens to become eligible as national players,” said the SBP source. “We’re a unique country because there are 10 million Filipinos living overseas. Those Filipinos end up as dual citizens so they keep their Filipino citizenship and under the law, they enjoy the privileges of any Filipino citizen including representing the country in sports competitions.”

There is no question that Clarkson wants to play for the Philippines. If he played in Changsha, the Philippines would’ve likely captured the gold medal. When informed of the possibility of Clarkson playing for Gilas, Blatche said “we’re going to Rio.” But FIBA has to be convinced of Clarkson’s eligibility as a local. The SBP has compiled documents and videos affirming Clarkson’s Filipino heritage and roots with testimonials from his Filipino relatives in Pampanga. There will be time to revisit the confirmation process with the Olympic qualifiers eight months away but the SBP must start the ball rolling again soon.

Clarkson, 23, is entering his second NBA season and will be up for a contract extension at the end of the campaign. The Lakers open the season against Minnesota at home on Oct. 28. In eight preseason games, the Lakers posted a 3-5 record with Clarkson averaging 12 points, 3.6 rebounds and 2.1 assists as a starter in the offguard and point guard positions. Kobe Bryant sat out the last three preseason contests.

Lakers coach Byron Scott started the preseason with Clarkson at offguard, Bryant at small forward and rookie D’Angelo Russell at the point. After two games, Scott moved Nick Young to start at offguard and shifted Clarkson to the point. In the fourth contest, Bryant started at offguard and Clarkson at point guard and the Lakers swamped Maccabi Haifa of Israel, 126-83. Bryant fired 21 points while Clarkson had 10 points, four rebounds and four assists. Scott kept that backcourt combination for the next game which was a 107-100 Lakers loss to Sacramento but Clarkson erupted for 17 points and Bryant chipped in 10.

In the sixth preseason game, Clarkson was back at offguard with Russell at the point. Bryant didn’t play as the Lakers beat Golden State, 85-70, with Clarkson hitting 17 points. Clarkson once more scored 17 in the Lakers’ next outing, a 104-102 win over Portland. In the final preseason game, the Lakers bowed to Golden State, 136-97, last Thursday. Clarkson started at offguard and scored three points in 12:18 minutes as Scott went to a deep rotation to test the players still trying out for spots.

Clarkson has locked up a starting role in the Lakers backcourt. “Jordan is a strong personality, almost as strong as Bryant and appears to be slated as the team’s starting point,” said writer Roland Lazenby. The Lakers will try to make a difference this season with newly-acquired 7-2 center Roy Hibbert, a rejuvenated Bryant and a much-improved Clarkson.