CHICAGO - Six days ago, the deal that would pave the way for Jordan Clarkson to play for Gilas Pilipinas as its naturalized player in the 2023 FIBA World Cup appeared dead in the water.
The coaching staff, under incredible pressure to put in a boatload of practice sessions as the global event inched closer, wanted the Utah Jazz offensive juggernaut to report to camp no later than August 1, when the national team departs for China for a pocket tournament.
There's just one problem.
Clakson, who had a previously scheduled family matter to attend to, couldn't fly to the Philippines until August 6.
READ: Kyle Anderson to play for China; Jordan processing RHJ citizenship
Five days don't seem much. Yet both sides stood their ground.
Coach Chot Reyes had a valid argument to insist that Gilas will be served well if Clarkson had a more lengthy prep time with the locals.
But Team Clarkson also had an equally reasonable justification why arriving on August 6 still fits the window of trying to establish cohesion with teammates and familiarity with Gilas' sets.
Nineteen days of bonding time, they surmised, is more than enough given the high basketball IQ of JC, a legit NBA star who started in 61 games last season where he averaged 20.8 points, 4.0 rebounds and 4.4 assists per.
When the negotiations stalled further, precious time ticking ahead of the World Cup tip-off on August 25, SBP president Al Panlilo cut short a business trip to Singapore and returned to Manila to make sure a deal was struck.
Last Saturday, a compromise was reached. And after two days of going back-and-forth on some minor details, Jordan affixed his signature on the contract.
"It's a good day for Philippine basketball. With Jordan Clarkson on board, the SBP looks forward to a competitive showing against the best in our region," Panlilio told me shortly after officially announcing Clarkson as part of the lineup during a send-off ceremony for the team bound for China.
Asked to comment on the momentous occasion. Jordan's camp told me that, "Out of respect for Mr. Al Panlilio and the SBP, Team Clarkson will wait for the formal announcement before making a statement."
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
