Jordan Clarkson has been mulling a decision about whether he would compete for the Philippines in the FIBA Asia Championship that takes place towards the end of September. Clarkson has known all along that he would only be able to compete in the beginning of the tournament due to Los Angeles Lakers training camp but he still was interested in playing. The Philippines announced their final roster on Tuesday morning and Clarkson was not on it meaning he will not be participating, according to the Philippine Basketball Association.
The FIBA Asia Championships are the only Olympic qualifying tournament that interferes with NBA training camps and they are trying to get that changed so things like this Clarkson situation don't happen. Clarkson would have only been able to participate in the elimination phase before having to go to Lakers training camp and missing the knockout phase.
The Lakers were on board with Clarkson playing for the Philippines until camp started but it is an NBA rule that a player under contract with a team must attend training camp. The Filipino national team worked hard to try and get Clarkson on the roster but they reportedly couldn't "beat the deadline to secure the necessary clearances in time."
Clarkson, whose mother is half Filipino, may not be competing in the upcoming Olympic qualifying event but his interest in playing for the national team is a great sign for the future of basketball in the Philippines. The Philippines chances of qualifying for the 2016 Olympics take a major hit without Clarkson on the roster as he would have come in and easily been one of the best players on the team.
The Philippines still do have one former NBA player on their roster and that is Andray Blatche the former Brooklyn Nets and Washington Wizards big man who would have formed a nice combination with Clarkson. The FIBA Asia tournament tips off on September 23 and goes until October 3.
