PARIS - Jordan Clarkson or Justin Brownlee as naturalized player of the men's national team to the FIBA World Cup?
Jordan Clarkson or Justin Brownlee?
If PBA Board chairman Ricky Vargas could have his way, why not have both of them play together for Gilas Pilipinas.
"You have a beautiful scenario when you have both," stressed Vargas over lunch a day before the PBA Board holds it's annual planning session in this charming French capital.
And how to go about it?
Vargas suggests for Clarkson to be the national team's naturalized player and let Brownlee play as a local player if FIBA would allow it.
The Board chairman obviously is pertaining to FIBA's residency rule especially with the 35-year-old Brownlee having been a fixture in the Philippines since 2016 when he first played for Barangay Ginebra in the Governors Cup.
"It's worth a try, di ba? Bakit hindi," said Vargas.
"But the question is, is it possible? So that falls on the head of the SBP (Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas) if that is possible."
Vargas said he believes SBP's appeal to have Clarkson re-considered as a local instead of being a naturalized is already 'a closed door.'
That's the reason why he said it would be better if it's Brownlee's case that should be elevated before FIBA despite the World Cup just being less than three months from now.
Brownlee officially became naturalized last January and already suited up for Gilas during the final window of the World Cup qualifier here and just recently, steered the Philippines on reclaiming the basketball gold in the 32nd Southeast Asian Games in Cambodia.
"If there's a way forward, why not," Vargas said.
The TNT governor however, is not privy on how long SBP could appeal such case to FIBA if ever it pushes through with the plan.
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