MANILA, Philippines — Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas’ top honcho personally thanked the man instrumental for making Jordan Clarkson’s stint at the Asiad possible.
Al Panlilio, the president of the federation, visited National Basketball Association deputy commissioner and chief operating officer Mark Tatum in his office in New York to extend the body’s gratitude for letting the Cleveland Cavaliers guard bolster the Philippine men’s national basketball team at the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta, Indonesia.
“Our wish of having Jordan play for the Philippine team has become a reality in the Asian Games,” said Panlilio in a statement coursed to the PBA press corps. “SBP’s desire is to have him play in future competitions during the NBA break.”
“With a stronger communication line, and relationship with Mark and the NBA, I am confident that it can happen again,” Panlilio noted.
After all, “the goal of SBP is to come up with the best possible Philippine team, have a chance to win every tournament, and ultimately make over 100 million Filipinos happy.”
Clarkson’s bid to play for alongside the Nationals was thumbed down on August 12, even after the 6-foot-5 guard’s eligibility was approved by the Indonesia Asian Games Organizing Committee (Inasgoc) prior.
The premier basketball league cited that NBA players can only play in FIBA-sanctioned events. But China, who had been a powerhouse in the tournament for years, had fielded two league members. The decision did not sit well with Filipino spectators.
But through a communique three days later, the NBA backtracked on its decision, granting Clarkson a one-time exception.
Clarkson flew from Los Angeles to Jakarta just in time to join his compatriots for the game against the Chinese, which they narrowly lost by two points.