Now that its biggest star — Jordan Clarkson — is finally on board, Gilas Pilipinas beams with confidence as it enters the final stretch of its preparation for the FIBA Basketball World Cup that will be held in the country
from 25 August to 10 September.

The 31-year-old Clarkson landed at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1 at 5:30 a.m. via Philippine Airlines Flight 103 on Tuesday and was welcomed by ranking Samahang Basketball ng Pilipinas executives,
including World Cup deputy event director Erika Dy.

Clarkson said he is thrilled to be reunited with his Gilas Pilipinas teammates and "to win some games" in the world's biggest and most prestigious basketball event.

"I think we got a good chance to do some things, to win some games. I don't know, we'll see but I'm just excited to be with the team again," said Clarkson, who is returning to Manila for the first time since powering Gilas in the
FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers Window 4 last year.

Gilas just successfully wrapped up their campaign in the 2023 Heyuan WUS International Basketball Tournament in China, where they won three in their four matches. They showed traces of promise as they beat Iran B twice while splitting their matches against a formidable
Senegal national squad.

But with Clarkson now on board, Gilas will be marching to the final two weeks of their training with high morale despite questions surrounding the participation of 7-foot-3 Kai Sotto.

Sotto is already in the country for the past three weeks but has yet to actively participate in workouts and scrimmages after suffering a back spasm in his final game in the National Basketball Association Summer League.

The federation is still waiting for a medical clearance before it allows Sotto to see action.

Gilas assistant coach Tim Cone stressed that he admires Clarkson's commitment to represent the country of his maternal grandmother in the World Cup.

"We'll see how seamlessly we can add Jordan and, hopefully, Kai to what we do and that will be the key," Cone said in a Viber message to Daily Tribune. "But we're all excited that Jordan is in town and we can get going. No doubt,
Jordan is special, special talent and we feel blessed."