Clarkson, SMC stars included in Gilas’ 24-man pool for Fiba Asia

Los Angeles Lakers’ Fil-American rookie Jordan Clarkson. Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net FILE PHOTO

In a surprising turn of events, the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) has submitted a list of 24 players from which the 12-man line-up for the upcoming 2015 FIBA Asia Championships in Changsha, China will come from.

SBP executive director Sonny Barrios on Tuesday confirmed the legitimacy of the list which is making rounds on social media, with the most glaring including coming in the form of Fil-American Los Angeles Lakers guard Jordan Clarkson.

Clarkson, who was earlier recruited by coach Chot Reyes in the past national team incarnations, has apparently owned a Philippine passport since the age of 12, which makes him eligible to be a local player for the international tournaments.

Clarkson arrived in Manila on Monday to join Gilas trainings.

Also in the list are June Mar Fajardo, Marc Pingris, and LA Tenorio, who are all included in coach Tab Baldwin’s original 16-man list but have yet to participate in the squad’s practices.

Marcio Lassiter and Paul Lee, two prospective members of the national team but were not in the earlier released wishlist, were also included in the pool.

College standouts Bobby Ray Parks and Kiefer Ravena were also listed as possible candidates for the biennial meet.

These eight names were the latest additions in the list sent by SBP to FIBA Asia, together with the 16 men who are already practicing under coach Tab Baldwin.

Naturalized player Andray Blatche, Jimmy Alapag, Jayson Castro, Gabe Norwood, Calvin Abueva, Terrence Romeo, Ranidel de Ocampo, Asi Taulava  Gary David, Dondon Hontiveros, Sonny Thoss, JC Intal, Aldrech Ramos, Troy Rosario, Matt Ganuelas-Rosser, and Moala Tautuaa have all just returned to the country after representing the Philippines in the 2015 Toyota Four Nations Cup in Estonia.

Gilas is set to fly to Taiwan for the William Jones Cup.