Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
Getting the final confirmation from the NBA, Cleveland Cavaliers guard Jordan Clarkson is headed to the Asian Games to play for the Philippines.
In a post on Twitter, Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas president Al Panlilio confirmed that the Fil-American player has been officially been cleared by the NBA to suit up in the continental meet.
The NBA also released a statement Wednesday morning saying Clarkson along with Zhou Qi of the Houston Rockets and Ding Yanyuhang of the Dallas Mavericks, who both play for China, have been given “special exception” to play in the basketball event of the Asiad.
The league cleared that while NBA contracts stipulate that its players can only play in the Olympics and Fiba-sanctioned events, the three were given a “one time” clearance due to “lack of clear communication of that agreement” between the NBA and the basketball federations involved.
On Tuesday, the Olympic Council of Asia also reinstated Clarkson in the final 12-man lineup in place of Don Trollano.
Clarkson, though, will likely miss the national team’s first game against Kazakhstan on Thursday.
He can suit up for the Philippines’ game against China on August 21.