Guiao reserves slot for Clarkson in Asian Games Final 12

The Philippine national basketball team is set to announce its final 12-man lineup late Friday evening but head coach Yeng Guiao said he’s still waiting for the confirmation for Jordan Clarkson’s inclusion.

Clarkson, who is born to a Filipino mother, plays for the Cleveland Cavaliers and will need clearances from the NBA, his club, and an accreditation from the Olympic Council of Asia to allow him to play in the Asian Games in Jakarta.

READ: Guiao awaits word on Clarkson’s inclusion in Asian Games roster 

“We’re still waiting on the situation of Clarkson, I don’t know if you guys have word of it but right now I still don’t have the confirmation,” said Guiao in Filipino Friday at Meralco Gym.

Guiao, whose team’s main financial backer is Smart, will still reserve a slot in the final 12-man lineup for Clarkson and he’s willing to risk bringing just 11 players in Jakarta on Sunday.

“We still don’t know but of course we want him to play,” said Guiao. “We want to know if all the permits have been secured so we’re still waiting.”

“That’s one thing we discussed with the officials, but we’ll take the risk of reserving a slot for him because if we don’t give him one and he ends up getting the accreditation then that’s just too bad.”

And as part of their preparation for the Asian Games, Guiao said his team will have a scrimmage against TNT on Saturday at Moro Lorenzo Gym in Ateneo.