Jordan Clarkson eager to 'get a win at home' as Gilas heads back to Manila

Jordan Clarkson and Gilas Pilipinas are heading back home to get back to the drawing board as they continue their campaign in the fourth window of the 2023 FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers.

And after suffering an 85-81 heartbreaking loss to Lebanon on early Friday, the Utah Jazz star said they will try to give the Filipino crowd a win as they battle world no. 80 Saudi Arabia at the Mall of Asia Arena on August 29.

"We had our chance to win the game. I missed some shots towards the end of the game I feel like I usually make so it's a tough one for tonight," Clarkson said in the post-game presser.

"We just gotta take it all in and get back to the drawing board and you know, we're going back to Manila and we have Saudi Arabia."

"We'll try to get a win at home."

The Gilas crew is marching to the Saudi Arabia game carrying the positives they got from the match against the Cedars.

With Clarkson piloting their offense with 27 points, seven assists, and six rebounds, other key players in Dwight Ramos, Japeth Aguilar, and Kai Sott showed up as well to lift the Filipinos.

B-League import Ramos churned out a double-double effort of 18 points, 10 rebounds, and six steals while Sotto had 10 markers, highlighted by a number of slams, to go along with eight boards and two blocks.

PBA veteran Aguilar, meanwhile, coughed up 11 points, six rebounds, one steal, and one block.

Although their efforts fell short, Clarkson said they will only get better in time.

"I think we did a good job in competing. Coach (Chot) prepared us really well," the naturalized guard said.

"But I mean for us, it's bright. We're just getting this team together, we got some good young stars on the team. Dwight played really well tonight as well. Kai played well."

Gilas head coach Chot Reyes also stressed that they knew it was going to be an uphill battle against Lebanon, who pulled off an upset over the Filipinos just a few weeks ago in the FIBA Asia Cup.

Still, Reyes said he remained proud of how the team performed against the home team.

"We knew it was gonna be a tough game, it was gonna be difficult, because we’re playing the number two team in Asia playing at home," Reyes said.

"We expected that it would be a big challenge [and] big battle for us but I’m very proud of the way our team played." — LA, GMA News