Cagers ready sans Clarkson

Even without Jordan Clarkson, the national men’s basketball team is willing to fight in the 18th Asian Games.

National team head coach Yeng Guiao stressed that he expects a lot of his players to step up in the absence of the prized Filipino-American playmaker, whose eligibility is still being scrutinized by the Indonesian Asian Games Organizing Committee (INASGOC) and the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) at press time.

In a report first released by ESPN5, the 6-foot-5 guard from Cleveland Cavaliers failed to get an approval from the National Basketball Association (NBA) in the quadrennial meet slated from 16 August to 2 September in Jakarta, Indonesia.

While neither Guiao nor the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) confirmed the news yet as they await the official word from the NBA, Guiao is already bracing himself to prepare for battle without the Filipino-American sensation.

“We don’t have word yet but whatever it is, we will represent the country with our without Jordan Clarkson,” said Guiao following the national team’s close 78-76 call against Talk ‘N Text in a tune-up match yesterday at the Moro Lorenzo Gym in Quezon City.

SBP President Al Panlilio said that they have yet to receive an official confirmation from the NBA whether Clarkson won’t be available for good or there might be one last chance for him to suit up.

“There’s no official correspondence yet,” he said in text to Daily Tribune yesterday afternoon.

Clarkson was part of the final 12-man roster of Guiao that was announced on Friday night.

It was a risk took by Guiao and the SBP pending the approval of INASGOC and OCA.

Guiao reiterated that he is ready to battle with the available personnel on board.

“Everyone’s going to be happy if he’s here. But if he’s not, we have a bunch of guys willing to work hard, step up and are determined to represent us in the way that we will proud,” he said.

Without Clarkson, Guiao will still have the Rain or Shine core led by Chris Tiu, Maverick Ahanmisi, James Yap, Gabe Norwood, Raymond Almazan and Beau Belga alongside NLEX’s Asi Taulava, San Miguel’s Christian Standhardinger, Magnolia’s Paul Lee, Blackwater’s Poy Erram and Globalport’s Stanley Pringle.

Should Clarkson fail to get the green light for good, Don Trollano might be the replacement pending the approval of INASGOC and OCA for last minute lineup change.

If not, the Philippines has to compete with only 11 players on the roster.

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