THE Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) has submitted its 24-man roster for scrutiny by the International Basketball Federation (Fiba) for its Asia Men’s Championship and the names of Filipino-American Jordan Clarkson, June Mar Fajardo, LA Tenorio, Marcio Lassiter and Paul Lee are on it.
Even Gilas Cadets Kiefer Ravena of Ateneo and Bobby Ray Parks Jr., formerly of National University, are also on the list.
The Fiba will check and countercheck the names on the list, which will be trimmed to the final 12 during the team managers’ meeting on the eve of the Fiba Asia Men’s Championship—the Rio de Janairo Olympics qualifier—China is hosting from September 23 to October 3 in Changsa.
The SBP confirmed, through the Department of Foreign Affairs, that the 23-year-old Clarkson, the Los Angeles Laker whose mother is originally from Angeles City, has acquired a Philippine passport when he was 12—way beyond the Fiba rule that sets passport acquisition at 16.
“All we have to do is wait for Fiba’s approval on the list,” SBP Executive Direcor Renauld “Sonny” Barrios said. “Let’s all hope for the best.”
The 6-foot-5 Clarkson, named to the National Basketball Association All-Rookie Team last season, arrived on Monday night to fulfill his endorsement obligations with Smart Communications. He will also be observing practices of the Gilas Pilipinas pool.
But Barrios said Clarkson won’t be on Gilas Head Coach Tab Baldwin’s roster for the William R. Jones Cup, set from August 29 to September 6 in Taiwan.
Also on the 24-man roster are naturalized player Andray Blatche, Moala Tautuaa, Jimmy Alapag, Gabe Norwood, Sonny Thoss, Calvin Abueva, JC Intal, Aldrech Ramos, Marc Pingris, Jayson Castro, Troy Rosario, Matt Ganuelas-Rosser, Gary David, Dondon Hontiveros, Ranidel de Ocampo, Asi Taulava and Terrence Romeo.