The anticipation that beset the people of the Philippines over Lakers guard Jordan Clarkson playing for their national team has been quashed.
FIBA has recommended that the Philippines choose one naturalized player between Clarkson and Andray Blatche, formerly of the Washington Wizards but has played the past two years in the Chinese league.
Manuel V. Pangilinan, the president of the Philippines' basketball governing body Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) told the Inquirer that Clarkson's situation was complicated.
"The arrangement with Jordan is a little bit more complicated," Pangilinan said "He is an NBA player. Everything has to be done right."
Pangilinan said Clarkson's inclusion as a Filipino local has sparked "a big debate internally [in the SBP] and with Fiba" but he did not elaborate on the details.
Ultimately, FIBA recommended that the Philippines use Blatche instead. "There are solicited suggestions," Pangilinan said. "And the safer suggestion is to go for Blatche."
Blatche was the chosen as the candidate for naturalization because the Philippines needed a big man. Clarkson was supposed to play as a local. This was the expectation of the Filipinos after the SBP bared that the Laker guard could qualify without naturalization. This was also reiterated in a report by Spin.ph.
"Blatche is a naturalized player and Clarkson, as the SBP claims, is qualified to play as a local player since he holds a Philippine passport."
The Philippines was made aware of this FIBA rule that any player who would represent the country should hold a passport of the country they want to represent before he is 16 years old. Also, the player should not have represented any other country in a FIBA sanctioned event. Clarkson fulfills both requirements.
Pangilinan also cited Clarkson's status as an NBA player, although there are many NBA players representing their respective nations.
There is a demand among Filipino basketball fans to explain why Clarkson was categorized as a naturalized player despite fulfilling the requirements. There are also calls for a protest but Pangilinan does not seem keen on pursuing any further action. Instead, he appealed for support for the team, including Andray Blatche.
The issue, however, was that the Philippines did not have to choose between Blatche and Clarkson, but should have both,