SBP to no longer appeal Jordan Clarkson's local classification case to FIBA

Jordan Clarkson will no longer be eligible to suit up as a local for Gilas Pilipinas as the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) has "accepted" that the Utah Jazz guard can only play in FIBA as a naturalized player.

The Filipino-American basketball star is set to join Gilas Pilipinas in the World Cup Asian Qualifiers fourth window this August but will be classified as a naturalized player. With that development, Clarkson can no longer retain local status, which is something the SBP has long batted for.

SBP executive director and spokesperson Sonny Barrios on Tuesday said Clarkson's status has been finalized, and that they will no longer appeal the classification after exhausting all efforts to have Clarkson see action as a local.

"Hindi na pwede 'yung local. Tinanggap na namin na naturalized na 'yung classification niya sa FIBA (Playing as a local is no longer an option. We have accepted that his classification with FIBA is naturalized)," Barrios said on Tuesday's PSA Forum.

"We tried our best and maraming pagsisikap na makuha ‘yung ating kagustuhan pero ‘yan na nga, gagamitin na natin siyang naturalized. There’s no turning back. Naturalized na po siya (We tried our best and we made efforts to get what we wanted, but we will use him as a naturalized player. There's no turning back. He will play as naturalized)."

Barrios said that while they have accepted this decision, it is not because they "abandoned" the pursuit of this case.

"Yes to the question na may finality na ba. No to the term ‘abandon’. We did not abandon, it's just that at the level of talks that we’ve had, kumbaga 'pag sinabing 'pasensiya na, hindi pwede', then we accept it (Yes to the question if this has finality. No to the term 'abandon' We did not abandon, it's just that at the level of talks that we've had, if they say, 'sorry, it's not possible' then we accept it)," the official said.

"But I hope it won't appear that we abandoned it."

And even with Clarkson set for a Gilas return this August, Barrios said Ange Kouame, the Philippines' other naturalized player, could still be fielded in other tournaments, especially with Clarkson's availability in the next windows and tournaments like the 2023 Southeast Asian Games in doubt.

"Well, if we decide on Jordan, the answer is yes and Ange is aware of that but it doesn't mean that Ange’s naturalization will go to waste," Barrios explained.

"Because remember, Clarkson won't be around for the fifth window, sixth window, the SEA Games so marami pa tayong paggamitan kay Ange (Because remember, Clarkson won't be around for the fifth window, sixth window, the SEA Games so we have many other opportunities to use Ange)."

Kouame suffered a meniscal sprain and partial ACL tear last June, forcing him to miss the third window of the FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers as well as the FIBA Asia Cup.

—Bea Micaller/JMB, GMA News