Jordan hangs, Gilas wait

Time is running out for Gilas Pilipinas as Jordan Clarkson has yet to be formally cleared to play for the national men’s basketball team in the 18th Asian Games.

Deputy chief of mission Robert Bachmann said they spent their delegation registration meeting (DRM) Friday entering the names of the 272 athletes, coaches, officials, medical staff, media and other Filipino personnel into the database of the Asian Games.

Clarkson’s name was included as well as other late entries like Mylene Paat of women’s volleyball and a couple of coaches, officials and members of the media.

Bachmann said they had another round of DRM Saturday afternoon where they are supposed to present the pertinent documents of Clarkson, Christian Standhardinger and other athletes before the Indonesian Asian Games Organizing Committee (INASGOC) and the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA).

The meeting was set at 2 p.m. (Manila time) but as of 6 p.m., the Philippines has yet to have its turn.

“Not yet. We’re still waiting for Myanmar to finish,” said Bachmann, the trusted deputy of chief of mission Richard Gomez, who is manning the fort in Jakarta for the Philippine squad.

“Our meeting last night (Friday) lasted up to 11:30 p.m. We just entered the names of all athletes, including late entries like Clarkson, Paat and those from the men’s basketball team. Nothing is definite at the moment since there’s another round of deliberation today (Saturday),” he said.

Bachmann emphasized that he would do his best to justify Clarkson’s inclusion.

“My goal here is clear: Everyone should be on board. No one should be left behind. We go will go here as one team so we have to stay as one team,” he added.

But hurdling the INASGOC and Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) eligibility procedure is just half of the job.

Gilas Pilipinas head coach Yeng Guiao admitted that he has yet to get clearance from the NBA with only few days left before the world’s biggest athletic conclave next to the Olympics fires off on 16 Aug.

Guiao, however, still included him in the 12-man roster together with Almazan, Chris Tiu, Gabe Norwood, Maverick Ahanmisi, James Yap, Beau Belga, Paul Lee, Christian Standhardinger, JP Erram, Stanley Pringle and Asi Taulava.

The fiery NLEX mentor knows that this is a major risk since the NBA has yet to formally give him the green light to compete, but he is pushing his luck and raised the possibility of playing with only 11 players if and when Clarkson was denied.

“We put Jordan there because we want to make sure that there’s a slot for him,” said Guiao, adding that they will try to insert Don Trollano should the NBA refuse to allow Clarkson to join.

Various reports from the NBA stressed that having Clarkson compete in the Asian Games is easier said than done.

In fact, his name is being dragged in a blockbuster deal that would send him, Kyle Korver and Tristan Thompson to the Miami Heat in exchange for center Hassan Whiteside and either Dion Waiters or James Johnson.

Usually, players rumored to be involved in trades are barred from playing in both local and international tourneys because it might hamper the potential deal.

NBA sources said Clarkson would be allowed to see action for his country – the Philippines – not in the Asian Games, but in the FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers in September.

While deliberation with the INASGOC and OCA and the appeal before the NBA are still ongoing, Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas quietly made travel arrangement for Clarkson to fly from Los Angeles to Manila.

His arrival was supposed to be Sunday, but since there’s no concrete development from the INASGOC, OCA and the NBA yet, it might be delayed up to Monday morning.

A source said chief of mission Richard Gomez is still hoping that even if Clarkson will not play, he would still remain as the country’s flag-bearer in the opening ceremonies on 18 Aug.

After all, Gomez and the Philippine Olympic Committee are running out of athletes to tap after Olympic silver medalist Hidilyn Diaz and BMX rider Daniel Caluag declined and Bowling World Cup winner Krizziah Tabora begged off from competing due to medical reasons.

“If he can’t play, he will be tapped to carry the flag, instead,” said the source, who is very familiar with the country’s Asian Games preparation.