Golden opportunity

This may not be the most star-studded Philippine national basketball team ever, but it sure seems to be the most dramatic squad.

After failing to field the core of Gilas Pilipinas, the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) contemplated the possibility of fielding the core of Talk N’ Text.

But with the brawl between Gilas and Australia erupting the federation resorted to Plan B and tapped the core of Rain or Shine before mulling the idea of not sending a team due to “competitiveness” concerns.

Then, SBP floated the possibility of having Jordan Clarkson as reinforcement until finally being denied by the National Basketball Association (NBA), which stated that the Asian Games is not part of its agreement with the International Basketball Federation (FIBA).

It has been quite a ride, for sure, with enough drama for an entire Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) conference, and yet the actual men’s basketball tournament of the 18th Asian Games has yet to formally begin.

But let’s get back to the meat of the matter: Is Jordan Clarkson’s inclusion as big of a deal as some people have made it out to be?

Let’s look at it using three barometers: talent, fit, and fan impact.

First, in terms of talent, it’s an easy yes!

Of course, not having a bona fide NBA player who has averaged around 14 points, three rebounds and three assists per game while shooting 44% from the field in four seasons is gonna be a big loss — or, at the very least — a HUGE what-if.

Had Clarkson been given cleared by the NBA to play in the Asian Games, he would have certainly given the Philippines a huge boost in talent and would almost immediately have made the Filipinos podium favorites.

Perhaps the Yeng Guiao-mentored team would have been shoo-ins to bring home our first men’s basketball medal since the Centennial Team in 1998.

Take note that we finished fourth in 2002, missed the 2006 Asiad, finished sixth in 2010 and a worst-ever seventh-place finish in 2014.

Second, in terms of fit, well, to be quite honest, maybe having Clarkson would have pushed the team into a one step forward-two steps back situation.

Having someone as talented as Clarkson means Guiao would have to tweak his system to better accommodate, if not maximize, Clarkson’s strengths.

It’s not as simple as a plug-and-play scenario where Clarkson can just show up for few practices and instantly dominate proceedings for the Philippines.

As any coach worth his salt knows, team chemistry is perhaps at least as important as a team’s talent level.

If Clarkson’s entry would have disrupted team chemistry to a point where the team would have ceased playing as a cohesive unit, then perhaps not having him around would actually prove to be better.

Lastly, what kind of fan impact would Clarkson’s presence create?

In a nutshell, having Clarkson would have a tremendous impact not only on Gilas Pilipinas or the entire Philippine delegation but, on a larger scale, on the entire event altogether.

Imagine the Asian Games featuring more than one NBA talent since China will have Zhou Qi of the Houston Rockets, Ding Yanyuhang of the Dallas Mavericks and Abudushalamu Abudurexiti, who signed for Golden State Warriors in the NBA Summer League.

These players would surely raise the profile, not only of the men’s basketball tournament, but the entire Games as well.

Also, if that happened, especially because it involves two countries that heavily use social media in the world in China and the Philippines, the reach and social media footprint of the Asian Games would have expanded quite significantly.

It was a bit of a wasted opportunity, though, the blame should not lie on the Asian Games organizers. They reportedly cleared Clarkson, after all.

It should not be pinned on the Cleveland Cavaliers, Clarkson’s pro team. They also reportedly cleared the Filipino-American point guard.

Should it be blamed on the NBA, then? I mean, that’s what a lot of people are saying anyway, owing to how the NBA’s clearance was the final hurdle in allowing Clarkson to play in the Asian Games.

I say not really. The NBA just adhered to the aforementioned agreement with FIBA.

It didn’t violate anything. It didn’t trample on any rights. It was, objectively speaking, just playing by the rules.

Am I disappointed? Do I wish Clarkson had been able to play?

Does it feel strange that an NBA player with Filipino roots will not play in the Asian Games while Chinese NBA players will be able to do so?

But is it enough to skip the coming NBA season? Will it make me delete my Fantasy NBA, NBA League Pass and NBA 2K accounts? Will I burn all my NBA merchandises?

Besides, given their current make up, Gilas Pilipinas is a sleeper medal contender in the Asian Games.

I would love them to play with chips on their shoulders and shock the continent with an impressive performance.

It’s a matter of turning a crisis into a golden opportunity.