JORDAN Heading’s desire to play for Gilas Pilipinas again was one of the reasons why he finally decided to play in the PBA after starting out his pro career overseas.
Heading embarks on a long-awaited career in Asia's first professional league on November 27 when his new team Converge faces Terrafirma, ironically the squad that selected him in the Season 46 Gilas draft but failed to sign him.
The 28-year-old Fil-Aussie sniper suited up in Taiwan, Japan, and Australia before finally moving to the PBA after the Dyip traded him to the FiberXers for Aljun Melecio, Keith Zaldivar, and Converge’s 51st season first-round pick.
READ Ratliffe, Magnolia bench impress in tuneup win over Converge
Heading said his desire to play for the national team after Gilas coach Tim Cone expressed interest in bringing him in during the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Latvia was a big factor in his decision to take his act to the PBA.
The Australian-born Heading explained that another stint overseas might make it difficult for him, logistics-wise to come over to the country, if there is a call-up.
“I think I had spoken to coach Tim in the OQT when he asked me to come, and he kind of explained SBP’s new approach is that they wanted more local-based players rather than overseas,” said Heading in an interview with SPIN.ph after Converge's tune-up game against Magnolia on Wednesday at the Gatorade Hoops Center.
"Obviously, there’s a few – Kai [Sotto], AJ [Edu], Dwight [Ramos] – guys that the national team obviously needs, staples."
Under Cone’s watch, the pool of players of Gilas has been limited to between 12 to 15 during the windows including the coming Window 3 of the FIBA Asia Cup 2025 qualifiers, where Gilas will play New Zealand (Nov. 21) and Hong Kong (Nov. 24).
“Logistically, it was just a little bit hard getting most of the team in from overseas. I want to put myself in a position to really be able to be here at all times and be available for the national team,” the 6-foot-2 Heading said.
It also helped that Converge was interested in bringing him in after a previous working relationship with the management of Strong Group Athletics in tournaments including this year’s William Jones Cup.
But at the end of the day, Heading said it was a difficult decision to say no to the opportunity to play for Gilas during the OQT where a shot at the Paris Olympics was at stake.
The Nationals were also dealing with injuries during that time, most notably to Scottie Thompson.
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Heading said being in the Philippines would give Cone and the Gilas higher-ups a chance to take a closer look at him during the PBA season.
“When I had to say no last time, I said that any other time, I would say yes, I really meant that. I really want to make myself available and get in front of their eyes all year, show them what I can do. And that’s just one of my goals, to get back to the national team,” said Heading.
Heading now will have to earn his spurs in order to be considered for a Gilas call-up, something that the first overall pick in the 2020 special draft doesn’t mind at all.
“I think it was a little different last time because Scottie was injured in the OQT. It’s a little bit different than past years because guys were under contract and they’ve got their pool signed. It’s a lot less switching in and out. It’s just for me is just try to get myself into that pool,” the 28-year-old Heading said.
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