The National Basketball Association (NBA) yesterday turned down a Philippine appeal to release Jordan Clarkson for the Cleveland Cavaliers guard to be able to suit up for the Philippine men’s basketball team in the 18th Asian Games in Jakarta next week.

In an official statement, NBA spokesman Tim Frank stressed that the Asian Games is not part of the league’s agreement with the International Basketball Federation (FIBA), the world-governing body in basketball.

Frank, the league’s senior vice president for basketball communications, emphasized that agreement with the NBA only covers the Olympics, FIBA World Cup and continental championships like the Asia Cup, Americas Cup, AfroBasket Cup and EuroBasket Cup.

He said Clarkson is welcome to suit up for Gilas Pilipinas, but only in FIBA tournaments like in the second round of the FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifier in September.

“The NBA’s agreement with FIBA stipulates that NBA players can participate in the Olympics, the FIBA Basketball World Cup and Continental Cup competitions and associated qualifying tournaments,” Frank said in a two-paragraph statement.

“Because the Asian Games are not one of those competitions, NBA players are unable to participate. In accordance with the NBA’s agreement with FIBA, Jordan is welcome to represent the Philippines in the agreed-upon competitions.”

Aside from this long-standing agreement between the NBA and FIBA, Clarkson’s name is also being involved in trade rumors and it will make it hard for the Cleveland Cavaliers to let him go.

Clarkson, a 6-foot-5 Filipino -American playmaker, is being rumored to be on his way to the Miami Heat together with Kyle Korver and Tristan Thompson in exchange for big man Hassan Whiteside and James Johnson or Dion Waiters.

Meanwhile, Special Assistant to the President Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go expressed dismay over the NBA’s refusal to allow Clarkson to suit up for the Philippine squad.

Go, who revived the country’s participation in the quadrennial meet, said he was surprised because the league barred Clarkson while allowing Zhou Qi of the Houston Rockets to compete for China.

“I understand that there’s an agreement with the NBA and FIBA regarding international competitions, but I’m surprised because NBA player Zhou Qi was allowed to play for China in the Asian Games while Clarkson was not,” he said in a statement.

“While we respect their authority over their players, I cannot help but express my dismay over how one seemingly inconsistent rule allowed them to disregard the plea of a whole nation.”

The Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) also expressed disappointment over the latest turn of event, saying Clarkson could have been a major help to a team that is looking to bounce back from a sorry seventh-place finish in the Incheon Asiad in 2014.

POC secretary-general Patrick Gregorio also said they worked hard together with top SBP officials just to secure Clarkson’s clearance.

I am at a loss for words. All I can say is NBA, you broke our hearts.

“I am at a loss for words. All I can say is NBA, you broke our hearts,” said Gregorio, who used to be the executive director of SBP before assuming a ranking POC position after Ricky Vargas won the POC presidency in February.

“You broke the hearts of 100 million Filipinos. We will never forget this,” Gregorio said.

With the NBA’s decision, the deliberation to be presided by top officials from the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) and Indonesian Asian Games Organizing Committee (INASGOC) Monday will no longer have bearing as far as Clarkson is concerned.

Deputy chief of mission Robert Bachmann confirmed that Clarkson’s name was included in the final 12-man roster that he submitted during the delegation registration meeting Friday and Saturday in Jakarta.

It’s now up to the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) officials to replace Clarkson and justify the inclusion of Christian Standhardinger, who is also likely to face some serious questions from the organizing body.

Based on Article 53 of the OCA rules on eligibility, a competitor who wishes to play in the Asian Games must be born in Asia.

If not, he should permanently reside in the country he wishes to represent for past three years, something that the Munich-born Standhardinger have not done the past years.

Bachmann said it’s now up to the SBP to make a move.

“The SBP has to present the eligibility requirements of its players and convince the OCA and INASGOC that they are qualified to play in the Asian Games,” Bachmann told Daily Tribune from Jakarta.

“We already entered all the names of late entries in men’s basketball (competition) so it’s now up to the SBP to justify their inclusion. We’re keeping our fingers crossed. I hope nobody would be left behind.”

Bachmann added he is already aware of the NBA ruling, but stressed that he’s leaving it up to the federation to decide if reserve Don Trollano will get a call slip.

“Trollano is part of the long list. The SBP can include him in the roster in the general technical meeting tomorrow,” Bachmann said.