ORLANDO - After guiding Gilas Pilipinas to a 3-1 record in a just-concluded China pocket tournament, coach Chot Reyes celebrated the occasion with his family.
"I'm at the birthday party of my apo,'' the 60-year old, nine-time PBA champion told me in a telephone interview on Tuesday night.
With the arrival of Jordan Clarkson in Manila on the same day Gilas returned from Guangdong, I asked coach Chot about his thoughts on finally securing the ultimate reinforcement.
READ: Clarkson arrives as Gilas buildup picks up steam
"I'll see him tomorrow night at practice but I'm relieved that he is here and, of course, I'm excited."
But a lot of work needs to be done between Wednesday and August 25 when the 2023 FIBA World Cup commences.
"It's easy and hard," Reyes described the integration process that will be required for Clarkson's skill-set to be woven into the fabric of Reyes' system.
EASY AND HARD
How so?
Integrating Clarkson will be easy because he is an NBA player, a great one with a demonstrably high basketball IQ. Because of his experience playing at the highest level, Jordan can seamlessly adapt to the sets Gilas has been practicing.
"He already knows some of our plays," Reyes emphasized that about Jordan, a 20-points per game scorer in the NBA where only a tiny fraction of humans - 450 to be exact - have the honor of playing.
However, integrating Jordan can also be hard from a chemistry standpoint given that the team has been practicing without him for months.
And now that he will be in the line-up, his teammates will have to adjust and learn, and in some cases, re-acquaint with how he plays.
One significant change, for instance, is that the guy who assumed Clarkson's position as the first option on the offense suddenly becomes the back-up option. But they are all professionals and this adjustment phase should work itself out just time for the tournament.
KAI UPDATE
Reyes, who probably is exhausted already from talking about Kai Sotto, declined to discuss the 7-foot-3 center's continued non-participation at team practices.
But a source from the Samahang Basketbol Ng Pilipinas (SBP) told me that Sotto gave word to the federation that he will only know by Thursday if he can join practice.
A big sigh for Kai here.
In other words, while the Jordan Clarkson has already arrived, Sotto, or his handlers, seem to be dragging their feet.
Even if Kai eventually shows up at the Meralco gym with his shorts and sneakers, the SBP, I am told, will insist on seeing a copy of the MRI that was supposedly taken after he sustained back spasms while playing for the Orlando Magic in the Summer League in Las Vegas last month.
No MRI, no contract. That's the edict.
The SBP also reiterated what I wrote in yesterday's column that Gilas is prepared to move on without him and that his mere presence in the roster does not guarantee him extended playing time.
"He will have to earn it, just like everyone else," the source added.
Clearly, the ball is now in Kai's court.
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