Has Gilas found a messiah from LA?
By Recah Trinidad
PhilBoxing.com
Thu, 27 Aug 2015
THERE?s a bright picture of the chief national basketball trouble-shooter flashing an angelic smile beside LA Lakers? Jordan Clarkson at the airport.
Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas executive director Sonny Barrios returned from California on Monday with the prized sophomore point guard of the LA Lakers.
There was however nothing clear on what Clarkson would be doing in the country of his mother?s birth.
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For the record, the initial announcement about Clarkson was limited to his role as endorser for Smart Communications.
Of course, it did not take long before it was made clear Clarkson would be pushed to be part of the badly depleted Gilas national team in its quest for the lone Olympic berth for Asia.
The continental slot will be disputed in Hunan, China starting late next month.
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Next, a question on Clarkson?s eligibility to play in the Fiba Asia championship was raised.
Then, as though heaven-sent, it was reported that Clarkson had been issued a Philippine passport as a child growing up in the United States.
His Filipino mother, Anne Davis, is a native of Angeles City.
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There is overriding confidence Clarkson would breeze through the Fiba eligibility requirements.
But the bigger question is whether or not the LA Lakers would allow him to suit up for the Philippines in the forthcoming Fiba tournament.
It was reported SBP is in direct communications with the Lakers on this touchy issue.
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Anyway, with the possibility of Clarkson playing for Gilas Pilipinas growing, one bright reaction noted the LA guard should be able to plug holes in the national squad.
So far, there has been no clear reaction from national coach Tad Baldwin, who was forced to scrape bottom following the regrettable pullout of several tested Gilas team mainstays.
Has Baldwin, who some experts felt would be needing a miracle to complete a truly competitive line-up, been instantly blessed with a saviour?
?God is good to those with good hearts and good intentions, ? a confident Barrios was quoted as saying upon arrival from California.
Barrios was the same national basketball trouble-shooter who was caught in the in middle of an eligibility storm that last year resulted in the disqualification of naturalized Andray Blatche from playing for the Philippines in the Asian Games in Incheon, Korea.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Recah Trinidad.
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