JORDAN CLARKSON TO PLAY FOR GILAS PILIPINAS

UPDATE 

16 Aug 2018

CLARKSON NOW IN INDONESIA

Clarkson, who planed in straight from the US after getting cleared by the NBA, will join the Nationals against China on Tuesday, August 21.

As Jordan Clarkson watched from the sidelines, the Filipino-American NBA player got a glimpse of the Philippine basketball team’s brand of play. Gilas beat the Kazakhs 96-59 to win the first game and will meet China on Tuesday (21 Aug - 4:00 pm)

15 Aug 2018

It's all over the headlines across the country.  NBA clears Jordan Clarkson to play for Gilas Pilipinas! The Cleveland Cavalier point guard took to his facebook account and expressed his excitement now that he got the go signal from NBA to play for the Philippine Team. 

"Puso! My heart is full of gratitude for everyone who helped make this happen.  See you all very soon" Jordan Clarkson wrote on his facebook account. 

For non-Filipinos, surely one would ask why the hell Jordan Clarkson play for Philippine basketball team?  Here's the answer.  Clarkson has a dual citizenship with the United States and the Philippines.  His Filipino citizenship is by virtue of his ancestral descent.  His mother is Annette Davis who is half Filipino descent.  Clarkson has been longing to play for Gilas Pilipinas but wasn't able to play in the past due to NBA's restrictions and yesterday finally NBA gave him the go signal, alongside with two Chinese NBA players to play for their respective teams in the ongoing Asian Games in Jakarta, Indonesia.  

Just a few days ago, NBA released a statement denying Clarkson to see action in the Asian Games but was reinstated yesterday and it's big news for the basketball crazy Philippines.  NBA also clears 2 Chinese NBA stars to play for China. But will his participation catapult the Philippines back in the game in the Asian Games?  Gilas Pilipinas ranked 7th in the Asian Games in Korea.

Clarkson has been visiting the Philippines over the last few years tracing his Filipino roots. He also appeared in a few commercials in the country and attended the team's practice and  joined them in  FIBA Asia in China a few years back though he did not play.  Surely his participation in the Asian games will add glamour and excitement for basketball fans.  Good Luck Gilas Pilipinas!

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