Fil-Am Jordan Clarkson is part of the temporary Pilipinas Basketball roster submitted by SBP to the FIBA Asia 2015 committee. The LA Lakers star is not only a natural born Pinoy, but is a Filipino passport holder even before the age of 16. This development allays fears that Clarkson may not be eligible to suit-up for Gilas Pilipinas.

The NBA phenom is presupposed to sign an endorsement deal with Smart Communications, but the possibility that he may end-up playing for the RP Five is very real. Though no final announcements were made by SBP regarding the matter, the prospect that last season NBA All-Rookie First Team member can play Filipino ball is salivating.

“God is good to those with good hearts and good intentions,” said SBP Executive Director Sonny Barrios. Gilas Pilipinas is severely depleted with the exodus and barring of several key players in the roster due to probable petty corporate politics.

“At the moment, he’s not yet cleared as he has pending issues like the approval of the LA Lakers and his FIBA eligibility,” Barrios pointed out. “But what’s positive is that he’s shown interest and he’s flying 10,000 miles to immerse with us.” Jordan Clarkson is reportedly eager to join and observe the Gilas practices.

The sophomore guard, whose mother Annette Davis is Filipino, is reportedly a Filipino passport holder before turning 16. Initial reports indicate that Jordan had the passport when he was still a child. This fact may well be Clarkson’s ticket to the stringent citizenship requirements of FIBA.

SBP is raring to form a competitive roster to FIBA Asia 2015 which will be the sole ticket to the Rio de Janeiro Olympic Basketball. The possible addition of Clarkson strenghtens the Philippine Basketball Team reinforced by NBA veteran Andray Blatche. Curiously, Junmar Fajardo, Marc Pingris, Paul Lee, Marcio Lassiter, LA Tenorio and Bobby Ray Parks are also included in the temporary list sent by SBP to FIBA Asia.