Clarkson is open to the possibility of another stint with Gilas at the next FIBA Basketball World Cup, which is scheduled for 2027.

By then, he will be 35 years old, an age when many athletes begin to experience a decline in performance due to accumulated wear and tear on their bodies. However, Clarkson remains optimistic about his ability to continue playing for the Philippines if the team qualifies.

At 31 years old, he still feels energetic and believes that age is just a number.

Following his impressive 34-point performance in Gilas’ 96-75 victory over China, he expressed his desire to continue representing his country. He emphasized that he’s not ready to retire from international competition and hopes to wear the Philippine jersey again in the future.

Clarkson’s outstanding performance in the game against China, where he scored 24 points in the third quarter alone, was a fitting way to potentially conclude his current stint as a Gilas Pilipinas player.

He displayed remarkable shooting accuracy, making 11-of-18 field goals, including 5-of-10 from beyond the arc, and also contributed with three assists and two rebounds in 33 minutes of play.

According to him, his success in the third quarter was the result of great teamwork and effective screens that allowed him to showcase his scoring abilities. (ai/mnm)

MANILA — Gilas Pilipinas coach Chot Reyes admitted on Saturday that the absence of Jordan Clarkson in the crucial stretch towards the end of regulation played a significant role in the Nationals’ initial match debacle against the Dominican Republic.

The star player from the Utah Jazz was called for two quick fouls, with the second resulting in his ejection with slightly over three minutes remaining in the fourth quarter with Gilas trailing but a scant three points adrift after team DR bombed away with two successive triples.

Compounded by a five-second inbound violation after that, Gilas never recovered from there and deprived of their primary offensive force, Gilas struggled against the Dominicans led by Karl Anthony-Towns, ultimately falling 87-81.

Reyes mentioned that, given the circumstances, the foul on Clarkson could have been treated more leniently, but he chose not to contest it.

“Discussing Clarkson’s fouling out might lead to fines, but it’s evident to everyone present. With our understanding of basketball, we realize it could have been allowed to slide,” remarked the Gilas coach.

The national team was trailing by a mere 79-76 with over three minutes left before Clarkson was forced to leave the court.

“Regrettably, Jordan’s disqualification dealt us a major setback,” lamented Reyes.

Clarkson visibly expressed his frustration as he sat on the sidelines after his ejection. Nevertheless, he did engage with the media post-game.

“Certain calls didn’t go our way, but that’s part of the game,” he acknowledged.

Clarkson also conveyed his appreciation to the fans who rallied behind them at the Philippine Arena. He admitted feeling disappointed about falling short in the end.

“It’s quite disheartening that we couldn’t secure the victory. Some things didn’t go our way in the closing moments,” he admitted.

Clarkson tallied the game’s highest score with 28 points, albeit on a 9-of-24 shooting performance, before fouling out. He also contributed seven rebounds and seven assists, yet he was also accountable for eight of the Philippines’ 19 turnovers during the game. (ai/mnm)

MANILA – Gilas Pilipinas stayed close to Mexico in their last tune-up game before the FIBA World Cup but still end up falling at the raw end of an 84-77 result on Monday night at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City.

Despite resting Jordan Clarkson for the night, Gilas put up a gallant stand against the Mexicans, even taking the lead at some points of the game, the last at 59-55 midway through the third quarter.

However, Mexico finished the third on a 14-4 run to take a 69-63 lead and held off Gilas in the fourth to seal the win.

In fact, after a 51-all halftime deadlock, Mexico held Gilas to just 26 second-half points.

Pako Cruz led Mexico with 18 points, going 4-for-5 from beyond the arc, one rebound and three assists, while Paul Stoll added 17 points on 5-of-8 three-point shooting, five rebounds, four assists and three steals.

Mexico made a living from long range in general, finishing 13-of-24 from three-point range.

Scottie Thompson led Gilas with 14 points, six rebounds and five assists.

Save for the absence of Clarkson, coach Chot Reyes played almost the same roster that took on Montenegro on Sunday night, although Calvin Oftana did not get some playing time against Mexico.

Like the previous game, Ray-Ray Parks and Thirdy Ravena were not listed in the active lineup, which means both players did not see action in all three tune-up games which Reyes said would play an important factor in choosing the final 12-man Gilas lineup for the FIBA World Cup itself.

Despite needing to play three games in four nights behind closed doors, Reyes said that the grind would still continue for Gilas, that is, they will still practice for the next three nights before they debut against Dominican Republic.

“Tuloy-tuloy na kami. Tatlong araw na lang e (We will continue on in practice. There are only three days left),” Reyes said.

Gilas is expected to name its final lineup either by Wednesday or Thursday. (PNA)

Jordan Clarkson ready to “feel the love” once more from Filipino fans (FIBA photo courtesy)

MANILA — Amid speculation surrounding the absence of Filipino-American guard Jordan Clarkson in Gilas Pilipinas’ final pre-FIBA World Cup warm-up match against Mexico, team manager Butch Antonio and head coach Chot Reyes have affirmed that Clarkson’s non-participation was not due to injury.

“He was simply in need of some rest,” Antonio assured in regard to Clarkson’s status.

Despite Clarkson’s absence, Gilas faced a defeat against Mexico, with a final score of 84-77. Scottie Thompson emerged as the top scorer for the team with 14 points, complemented by Dwight Ramos and Roger Pogoy, each contributing nine points. The game saw Mexico gaining momentum in the third quarter, capitalizing on seven turnovers by Gilas.

In light of concerns, Antonio dispelled any worries regarding the health of the Fil-Am guard or the potential jeopardy of his involvement in the upcoming World Cup.

“There’s no need for concern,” he emphasized. “He genuinely required some time to recuperate.”

Clarkson had arrived in Manila on August 8 and has been actively training with Gilas Pilipinas since then. In his debut tune-up match with the team, he played for 24 minutes and 15 seconds during an 85-62 victory over Ivory Coast on the previous Friday. Subsequently, he logged 29 minutes and 39 seconds of playtime in the team’s 102-87 loss to Montenegro on Sunday night.

“Rest was simply what he needed,” Reyes reiterated.

Clarkson is set to lead the Philippines’ charge in the FIBA World Cup, commencing on August 25 at the Philippine Arena, where their first match will be against the Dominican Republic. (ai/mnm)

Gilas Pilipinas star Jordan Clarkson with ANTA Group Philippines Marketing Manager Mikko Abello, General Manager JP Paglinawan and Sports Marketing Associate Mais Cruz. (Photo supplied)

Gilas Pilipinas standout, Jordan Clarkson, has teamed up with ANTA for the upcoming 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup. The 6-foot-5 former NBA Sixth Man of the Year has formally solidified an agreement to sport ANTA sneakers throughout the tournament.

The official signing event took place on Saturday at Bonifacio Global City in Taguig, where Clarkson, alongside ANTA Group Philippines General Manager JP Paglinawan and ANTA Group Philippines Marketing Manager Mikko Abello, officially sealed the partnership.

Both ANTA representatives conveyed their enthusiasm about having Clarkson onboard, as his presence will undoubtedly elevate the brand’s profile, especially considering the attention that the former LA Lakers guard and the team will attract.

JP Paglinawan remarked, “The FIBA World Cup is unquestionably one of the premier basketball tournaments globally. Having one of the world’s top players showcase ANTA at this pinnacle of competition reaffirms our belief that our brand offers the finest basketball products on the market.”

Mikko Abello added, “We are thrilled that Jordan has chosen to don ANTA on the grandest stage of international basketball, particularly as the Philippines hosts this quadrennial tournament. This year is an exhilarating time for the brand, and Jordan’s participation adds an extra layer of significance.”

ANTA’s roster of endorsers already includes NBA champions Klay Thompson and Kyrie Irving. As for Clarkson, discussions for a potential longer-term collaboration that could extend to the upcoming NBA season are currently in progress. (ai/mnm)

Jordan Clarkson (EuroHoop photo courtesy)

Jordan Clarkson, the prominent Fil-Am Utah Jazz player, is en route to Manila, upholding his commitment to join the Philippine team in the upcoming FIBA World Cup of basketball.

A photograph of him at Los Angeles International Airport, taken by Filipino digital creator and photojournalist Jhay Otamias, circulated on social media on Monday.

Otamias shared a snapshot alongside the 31-year-old Clarkson, who is poised to embark on his flight to Manila.

This journey allows the former NBA Sixth Man of the Year more than two weeks to reacquaint himself with the national team before engaging in the 2023 FIBA World Cup, a co-hosted event by the Philippines, Japan, and Indonesia.

The talented Filipino-American guard, known for his sharpshooting skills, is expected to land in Manila on Tuesday and participate in Gilas’ practice the following day.

As of the current moment on Monday (August 7), the national squad is competing in its final match at the 2023 Heyuan WUS International Basketball tournament against Iran. Upon conclusion, the team will depart Guangdong and return to Manila.

Given his NBA background and strong basketball acumen, Clarkson is undoubtedly set to be Gilas’ primary scoring option.

“The foremost anticipation is his basketball readiness. While he may not be at peak game shape just yet, he will have ample time to reach that point. For a player of his caliber, his basketball skills and game shape should align sufficiently,” remarked Reyes during his recent appearance on former PBA commissioner Noli Eala’s online sports show, Power and Play.

Selected as the 46th overall draft pick by the Washington Wizards in 2014, Clarkson is arriving after an impressive season with the Jazz, where he maintained an average of 20.8 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 4.4 assists across 61 regular season games.

In the fourth window of the 2023 FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers, Clarkson contributed to Gilas’ efforts, participating in a closely contested match against Lebanon led by Waek Arakji in Beirut. Subsequently, Gilas achieved a significant triumph over Saudi Arabia just days later at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay. (ai/mnm)

Jordan Clarkson (NBC Sports photo courtesy)

Utah is in the middle of finalizing an extension deal for guard Jordan Clarkson on Sunday (Monday in Manila).

Should it pushes through, the deal will have a total value of $55 million over the next three years.

Clarkson averaged a career-high 20.8 points for the Jazz this past season, and the extension will push his on-court earnings well past $100 million for his career.

All-NBA center Domantas Sabonis wasn’t a free agent this summer. And he won’t be for the next few summers, either.

The 2021 NBA Sixth Man of the Year also plays for PH’s national squad Gilas Pilipinas as a naturalized player.

(Source: Online/ai/mnm)