AS coach Yeng Guiao said, "There’s always a next time."
The white and blue-colored Philippine jersey reserved for Jordan Clarkson will have to wait a while after the Fil-Am guard of the Cleveland Cavaliers was not given clearance by the NBA to play in the 18th Asian Games in Indonesia.
The jerseys, which carries Clarkson’s old No. 6 with his former team Los Angeles Lakers, were readied by the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) in case he was given the green light by the NBA to represent the country for the first time in a major international tournament.
On Sunday however, the NBA, through spokesman Tim Frank, said Clarkson will not be allowed to play since the Asian Games is not covered by the agreement between the league and FIBA on which tournaments NBA players can be called up to participate.
Other than the jersey, Clarkson had likewise been booked to join the team in its departure for Jakarta via Philippine Airlines. His airline ticket to Manila from Los Angeles, had reportedly been re-booked three times during the long, excruciating wait for an NBA decision.
Going by the NBA's statement, the 26-year-old Clarkson can play for the Philippines in the second window of the FIBA World Cup qualifiers.
But that is another story.
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