Clarkson disappointed over NBA decision
Filipino-American Jordan Clarkson said he is disappointed that the National Basketball Association (NBA) did not allow him to participate in the Asian Games beginning on Thursday in Jakarta, Indonesia.
In a Facebook post on Monday, the Cleveland Cavaliers guard said that he has not received the ‘required consent’ to represent the Philippines in the upcoming Asian Games.
To my Filipino brothers and sisters, I am terribly disappointed to say that I have not received the required consent to participate in the upcoming Asian Games with our National Team,” Clarkson wrote. “Although I will not be there in person, I will be with my Gilas teammates in heart and spirit.”
J.R. Smith (5) and Kyrie Irving (2) of the Cleveland Cavaliers try to stop Jordan Clarkson (6) during an NBA game at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. AFP FILE PHOTO
Clarkson’s post was accompanied by a photo of a box containing a Philippine national team jersey bearing his name.
Clarkson said that despite not being allowed to participate in the Asian Games, he remained confident that he will represent the Philippines in future competitions.
“Despite this, my desire and ambition to play with my countrymen in the future remains resolute and I am adamant that this dream will come true! PUSO!” Clarkson wrote.
Despite being allowed by the Indonesian Asian Games organizers to participate, the NBA on Sunday disallowed Clarkson’s participation, as NBA players can only participate in events sanctioned by the FIBA (International Basketball Federation), which include the Olympic Games, FIBA World Cup, the Continental Cup, and the FIBA Asia Cup.
A 2014 second-round draftee of the Washington Wizards, Clarkson has an NBA career average of 14.1 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.8 assists, most of them during a spell at the Los Angeles Lakers.
The Philippines had originally withdrawn from the Asiad men’s basketball tournament after seeing 10 of their first-team players and two coaches hit with suspensions and fines after an on-court brawl with Australia at a World Cup qualifier last month.
However the federation hastily assembled a team from scratch, naming Clarkson in the 12-man roster last week, after being prevailed upon by a senior aide to president Rodrigo Duterte to change their decision.
Winners of four Asiad basketball golds, but none after 1962, the Philippines are in the tough Group D with one of the gold medal favorites, China. Their opening game is against Kazakhstan on August 16.
WITH AFP REPORT
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