Jordan Clarkson attends Gilas Pilipinas training. Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
Jordan Clarkson went from not being allowed to represent the Philippines in the 2018 Asian Games to being the country’s flag-bearer.
The Philippine Sports Commission on Wednesday announced that Clarkson will be front and center when the Philippine delegation marches during the opening ceremony on Saturday at Gelora Bung Karno Stadium in Jakarta, Indonesia.
Originally, the designation belonged to BMX rider Daniel Caluag, who was the only Filipino gold medalist four years ago in previous Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea.
READ: Caluag named PH’s flag-bearer for Asian Games
Clarkson, the Cleveland Cavaliers guard, was initially disallowed by the NBA to participate in the Asiad.
The league, however, made a U-turn and gave Clarkson the thumbs up following an appeal made by Philippine sports officials.
The NBA on Wednesday morning released a statement giving Clarkson and China’s Zhou Qi of the Houston Rockets and Ding Yanyuhang of the Dallas Mavericks “one time” clearance to suit up for their respective countries in the continental meet.
The Philippine men’s basketball team opens its campaign against Kazakhstan on Thursday.