Has Gilas found a messiah from LA?

THERE’S a bright picture of the chief national basketball trouble-shooter flashing an angelic smile beside the Los Angeles Lakers’ Jordan Clarkson at the airport.

Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas executive director Sonny Barrios returned from California on Monday with the prized sophomore point guard of the Lakers.

There was, however, nothing clear on what Clarkson would be doing in the country of his mother’s birth.

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For the record, the initial announcement about Clarkson was limited to his role as endorser for Smart Communications.

Of course, it did not take long before it was made clear that Clarkson would be pushed to be part of the badly depleted Gilas national team in its quest for the lone Olympic berth for Asia.

The continental slot will be disputed in Hunan, China, late next month.

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Next, a question on Clarkson’s eligibility to play in the Fiba Asia Men’s Championship was raised.

Then, as though heaven-sent, it was reported that Clarkson had been issued a Philippine passport as a child growing up in the United States.

His Filipino mother, Annette Davis, is a native of Angeles City.

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There is overriding confidence that Clarkson would breeze through the Fiba eligibility requirements.

But the bigger question is whether or not the LA Lakers would allow him to suit up for the Philippines in the forthcoming Fiba tournament.

It was reported that SBP is in direct communications with the Lakers on this touchy issue.

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Anyway, with the possibility of Clarkson playing for Gilas Pilipinas growing, one bright reaction noted that the LA guard should be able to plug holes in the national squad.

So far, there has been no clear reaction from national coach Tad Baldwin, who was forced to scrape the bottom following the regrettable pullout of several tested Gilas team mainstays.

Has Baldwin, who some experts felt would be needing a miracle to complete a truly competitive lineup, been instantly blessed with a savior?

“God is good to those with good hearts and good intentions,” a confident Barrios was quoted as saying upon arrival from California.

Barrios was the same national basketball trouble-shooter who was caught in the middle of an eligibility storm that last year resulted in the disqualification of the naturalized Andray Blatche from playing for the Philippines in the Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea.