GILAS Pilipinas has made waves in multiple FIBA tournaments all over the world with the system that Gilas head coach Tim Cone used. Proving themselves to be a high-caliber team by beating teams that few people believe they can beat.
Especially when they overcame then-ranked No.6 Latvia in the Olympic Qualifying Tournament and are presently leading the FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers with a perfect 4-0 record, after beating New Zealand for the first time.
They have been doing it alongside naturalized player Justin Brownlee. But the question is, would Jordan Clarkson ever play for Cone’s squad?
If Clarkson had the choice, he would always raise the Philippine flag and wear the Gilas jersey. He’s also interested in playing for the successful system that Cone is developing.
JC wants in
Clarkson has been a much-admired icon among Filipinos. Not only because he is an NBA player, but also because he has been a strong supporter of the national team despite not being selected as a naturalized player.
“For sure,” Clarkson said in an interview with a SPIN.ph contributor at the Intuit Dome, Tuesday night. “To have an opportunity to play for him [Tim Cone] in the national team, I think that would be dope.”great
“[He’s] organized and does a great job of communicating. Seems really smart at the time l’ve been around him. Seems like a great coach, you know,” he added.
The NBA player met Cone at the 2023 FIBA World Cup in Manila, where the PBA’s winningest tactician worked as an assistant/consultant for Chot Reyes’ Gilas coaching team.
Cone explains
However, Cone considers consistency and familiarity when introducing a very talented player such as the former NBA Sixth Man of the Year. Defeating the purpose of establishing a squad over time.
“Jordan’s availability is always extremely, extremely limited by the NBA,” Cone previously told the media. “He might be able to show up a few weeks before the World Cup, but then that would defeat all the continuity you have developed over time.”
“When you bring in a naturalized player at a caliber of Jordan Clarkson, then he impacts the team in so many various ways.”
“All the attention, all the touches, everything goes to him and all the players are kinda left like, ‘What am I supposed to do?’ ‘Cause they’re not used to it. And that’s what happened to us in the World Cup,” he added.
Continuity is what Gilas needs
Clarkson joined Gilas Pilipinas just eight to nine days before the start of one of the largest basketball stages, but the rest of the team had three months to prepare.
“It was hard to make that quick adjustment, and that’s the whole purpose of this program, so we don’t have to adjust, so we don’t have that continuity,” Cone said.
“We feel that over time, familiarity and system are more important to the long-term success than just showing up with great players every chance you get.”
“The system, the philosophy this program is taking at this point, we’re not going to look for ultimate players all the time. We’re trying to stay and grow this group that we have,” he added.
Nonetheless, it’s a good sight to see that Clarkson is still dedicated to represent the country despite not getting any call up. Who knows, maybe the wind may change when Gilas Pilipinas is in need of star power.
