Jordan Clarkson (right) shares a light moment with teammates (from left) Gabe Norwood, Maverick Ahanmisi and Stanley Pringle. —MUSONG R. CASTILLO
JAKARTA—Before Jordan Clarkson makes his first basket in the 18th Asian Games, the Cleveland star in the NBA will perform one important function Saturday night when the continental showcase officially gets off the ground in elaborate rites.
He will carry the Philippine flag during the opening ceremonies at Gelora Bung Karno Stadium here.
“I have never done something like that and that big in my life before,” Clarkson told the Inquirer on Friday before practice with the national team.
“Am I excited? Definitely, but honored is more like it,” he said as his father will plane in with his wife Saturday, just in time to see the opening. “I’m going to have a good time doing it.”
It is a chance, he said, for him to reconnect with his lineage.
“I’m just honored to be able to represent, you know, the country of my roots,” Clarkson said. “I think I’ll be wearing a Barong Tagalog.”
He’ll try on six, actually—and officials are hoping one fits.
“Those were the only oversized ones left so we shipped them out as fast as we can,” said national team chef de mission Richard Gomez, who arrived here Friday night, of the national costume designed by noted couturier Randy Ortiz. “I hope one of those fits Jordan.”
Made out of silk, the Barong sports an embroidered “harimanok” design and will be worn by the more than 270-man national contingent during the inaugural rites starting at 7 p.m. (8 p.m. in Manila) Saturday at the 80,000-capacity stadium.
Gomez bared that he had endorsed Clarkson as the flag-bearer to Philippine Olympic Committee secretary general Pato Gregorio “because Clarkson is a good role model who has reached the pinnacle of being a Filipino basketball athlete by playing in the NBA.
“He will inspire our other athletes here to do well.”
Clarkson has definitely become the toast of these Games.
International media, in fact, tried to get clips and interviews of Clarkson before the team’s 2 p.m., 50-minute practice at Gor Pulogadung Gym.
Clarkson is battling jet lag at the moment and the coaching staff is aware of the attention he attracts and how this could distract him from the task at hand.
That’s why team management checked him into an undisclosed hotel so he could get his due rest, while the rest of the team is staying at Athlete’s Village, which is close to an hour away from the tournament venue.
“It’s good for him, being away from the camera and the fans,” guard Gabe Norwood said. “Because Jordan tends to entertain everyone, he’s just so approachable.”