The lengthy, anxious wait is lastly over for the hoop-crazed Filipinos.

Jordan Clarkson — the Philippines’ best within the NBA — is about to finish the nation’s slate on the upcoming FIBA Basketball World Cup this yr, per Homer Sayson of SPIN.PH.

Philippine basketball federations chief Al Panlilio made the official announcement on Tuesday as Clarkson is predicted to land his foot to the Filipino soil on Aug. 6.

Filipino high mentor Chot Reyes positioned the Aug. 1 date as the ultimate day for the microwave guard to report back to the nationwide camp earlier than they head to China for a five-day pocket event. However a mutual settlement with Clarkson’s social gathering in the end allowed the Fil-Am star to make a late arrival.

“It’s a superb day for Philippine basketball. With Jordan Clarkson on board, the SBP seems ahead to a aggressive exhibiting towards one of the best in our area,” Panlilio said.

Speculations have been just lately scattered round Clarkson’s World Cup availability as he and Filipino phenom Kai Sotto are the one two gamers from the present taking part pool of the nation who haven’t practiced but with the nationwide squad. Sotto took days to reach within the Philippines as he just lately participated within the 2023 NBA Summer season League outing of the Orlando Magic.

As such, the recent shot veteran is now assumed to take the naturalized mantle for Gilas Pilipinas with native basketball star and import Justin Brownlee set to maneuver as his important reserve.

Clarkson, 31, completed his ninth yr within the NBA with the Utah Jazz by averaging a profession finest 20.8 factors, 4.4 assists, and 4.0 boards for 61 common season video games within the 2022-23 season. His stable particular person season output netted him a three-year extension with the membership this offseason which can pay him over $55 million in whole.

The previous NBA Sixth Man of the Yr repped the Philippine flag in final yr’s FIBA qualifying tourney for 2 video games, tallying 25.0 factors, 6.5 assists, and 5.5 rebounds towards Lebanon and Saudi Arabia.

The Philippines, one of many three hosts of the World Championships, will play towards Angola, Italy and the Dominican Republic on the group part.

The addition of Clarkson is important for the Philippines as they intention to compete for themselves to occupy a seat on the 2024 Olympics as one of the best group in Asia on the World Cup. China (Kyle Anderson) and Jordan (Rondae Hollis-Jefferson) have made their very own naturalized transfer to bolster their very own odds to ebook a ticket to Paris subsequent yr.