Gilas Pilipinas want Jordan Clarkson for World Cup but Fiba eligibility rules may dash their hopes

Filipinos were clamouring for NBA star Jordan Clarkson to join the party after Gilas Pilipinas qualified for this year’s Fiba World Cup by the skin of their teeth. However, Fiba eligibility rules mean the Philippines may have to choose between Clarkson and ex-NBA player Andray Bletche.

Cleveland Cavaliers’ Clarkson was the star player for the Philippines in their Asian Games campaign in August but has failed to wear the national colours since because of his commitments to the NBA team.

However, after Sunday’s strong 93-75 group F away victory over Kazakhstan – along with Lebanon’s 84-72 defeat by South Korea – the Philippines finished as the best fourth-place finishers to become one of seven Asian teams to compete in the World Cup in China from August 31 to September 15.

“Clarkson and Blatche for the World Cup,” wrote one delighted Facebook fan, referring to the star of the Gilas team on Sunday, former NBA player Blatche who now plays for Chinese side Tianjin Gold Lions.

“Thank you Almighty Lord... Thank you Team Gilas Pilipinas... Thank you Team Korea..... And Let Jordan Clarkson Play...,” said Joey Vitales

Neil Paler Bunga agreed, saying: “It’s time for Blatche and Clarkson combo.”

Clarkson, 26, has played 59 games this season for the Cavs as of Sunday, though he has yet to start. However, he has proved himself as an impact player, with a scoring average of 16.9 points a game off the bench. The start of the 2019-20 NBA season is delayed by one week, partly because of the World Cup, which means Clarkson and other NBA players will be available for selection to their national teams.

But for the Filipino-American Clarkson to play at the World Cup, the Philippines governing body must convince Fiba to consider him as a citizen because he only obtained his Filipino passport after the age of 16.

Fiba, which has different eligibility rules to the Asian Games, restricts each team to one “naturalised” player, meaning the Philippines would have to choose between Clarkson and Blatche, who acquired Filipino nationality by naturalisation.

“We have been trying to convince or discuss the matter with Fiba,” SBP president Al Panlilio told AFP. “Everyone is working on the matter and we will do everything we can to make it happen.

“Based on our constitution, he is Filipino. He has a passport. But he got it after he was 16 years old,” Panlilio added.

Apart from calling for Clarkson’s return, Filipino fans also thanked Blatche – who scored 41 points and pulled down 13 rebounds – and the Koreans for helping their cause by beating Lebanon.

Gilas finished with a 7-5 record in pool F, superior to that of Lebanon, who completed their programme with a 6-6 effort.

Group winners Australia, Japan and Iran qualified from pool F, while New Zealand, South Korea and Jordan advanced from pool E. Lebanon finished in fifth place but were in contention to advance as the best fourth-placed team because China – who ended their campaign fourth in pool E – had already qualified as hosts.

“Millions of Filipino basketball fans are celebrating tonight,” wrote a fan using the handle Rott Weiler. “We are so happy. All the hard [work] and sacrifice of our heroes are in the court. Thank you for your prayers.”

“Thank God. Gilas made it. Gilas wins. Gilas lose. We fall down but we rise up. We never give up and now we are in the World Cup,” wrote Royson Es Flores, referring to the team’s roller-coaster qualifying campaign during which they suffered a number of heartbreaking losses.

Blatche was taken off with 3:45 left of the third quarter after picking up four fouls, with Philippine league MVP June Mar Fajardo taking his place.

Blatche was full of praise for Fajardo, who came in with his team 60-51 up as he scored seven points, grabbed five rebounds and an assist to ensure Gilas remained in the ascendancy.

“I got into foul trouble and I want to tip my hat to June Mar, he came in and he was really the game-changer for us and took over the team for us,” Blatche said.

“It was a really emotional game for us. It was either win or go home. I feel like we competed from the jump till the end.”

Coach Yeng Guiao also reserved special praise for Blatche, who was born in the United States but is a naturalised Filipino.

“Andray carried us on his shoulders in the first half,” Yeng said. “He was on fire. I was kind of worried that the rest of the guys would over-rely on him. But the second half, the rest of the guys stepped up.

“We’re just glad it’s over. We were feeling the pressure prior to this game. We really wanted to win.”