Clarkson wants to join Gilas – SBP

Los Angeles Lakers’ Fil-American rookie Jordan Clarkson interact with the kids during the National Basketball Association Cares event Saturday in Tondo, Manila. But aside from that, it looks like he has other itineraries as well.

In a statement released on Sunday, the SBP said the Filipino-American guard wants to be part of the national team. If the requirements are not fulfilled before the age of 16, then the only way the said player may represent the country is as a naturalized player.

Although it’s unlikely Clarkson will don the Philippine’s colors in worldwide competition for a foreseeable future, there’s a possibility he might eventually play for the basketball-crazy country down the road, especially with FIBA considering to shift to a FIFA-liked kind of qualification for the 2019 World Cup.

The SBP chief concluded by saying that Clarkson won’t be a naturalized player, but will be classified as a “natural born” player.

Naturalization is normally reserved for a big man and Clarkson is a guard. At the moment, Andray Blatche is the naturalized Filipino in the lineup. Head coach Tab Baldwin admitted, however, that it’s not likely Gilas would naturalize a guard.

Aside from Clarkson, there is another player now in the lineup who holds the same case – Moala Tautuaa.

Tautuaa’s case is similar to that of Clarkson as far as FIBA eligibility is concerned but the difference is that he does play the center position.

The vastly improving guard of the Los Angeles Lakers was signed by Smart yesterday to be its newest endorser and in line with that, he is set to attend and observe practices of Smart Gilas in the week ahead and also travel with the team to Taiwan to provide support for the upcoming William Jones Cup next week.

Clarkson will also be involved in basketball clinics for the youth.