Caluag regains Asiad duty

He is the last athlete to win a gold medal for us in the Asian Games so it is only fitting to allow him to lead us in our battle this year.

With National Basketball Association (NBA) player Jordan Clarkson no longer available, the country’s chief of mission Richard Gomez reinstated BMX rider Daniel Caluag to carry the flag when they march in the opening ceremonies of the 18th Asian Games on 18 Aug.

In a message to Daily Tribune Gomez said Caluag was given the honor after winning the country’s lone gold medal in the previous edition of the quadrennial meet in Incheon in 2014.

Actually, Caluag was the original choice.

But the Los Angeles-based cyclist who works as a registered nurse was reluctant since the BMX race will be held on 25 Aug at the Pulo Mas International BMX Center. It means that he has to be in Jakarta at least 10 days before formally seeing action.

Then, the possibility of Clarkson suiting up for the national men’s basketball team cropped up.

The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) made last -minute attempt to include him in the lineup, prompting Gomez and the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) to seriously consider him as flag bearer.

But in a statement Sunday, the NBA said Clarkson is not allowed to see action since the Asian Games is not part of its agreement with the International Basketball Association (FIBA).

At the same time, Clarkson is also being rumored to be part of a blockbuster trade where he would be sent to the Miami Heat with Kyle Korver and Tristan Thompson in exchange for Hassan Whiteside and either James Johnson or Dion Waiters.

Now that the NBA already decided with finality, Gomez said they would revert to their original plan of having Caluag as flag bearer.

“He assured us that he will be there for the parade,” said Gomez, who would lead the athletes, coaches and officials in the traditional send-off ceremony Monday at the Malacanang Palace and Philsports Arena.

Picking a flag-bearer had been a major issue for the Philippine squad.

Reports have it that Gomez was looking at world champion Krizziah Tabora and Olympic silver medalist Hidilyn Diaz to lead the parade with 44 other countries at the Bung Karno Gelora Stadium.

But Tabora begged off from competing due to medical reasons while Diaz, the flag-bearer in the Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games last year, declined to give other athletes a chance.

“He is the last athlete to win a gold medal for us in the Asian Games so it is only fitting to allow him to lead us in our battle this year,” said Gomez in a previous statement.