THE national men's basketball team will have its biggest supporter on the sidelines when it plays its opening match in the 18th Asian Games in Jakarta, Indonesia.
The Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Board arrived in the Indonesian capital on Wednesday in time for the Filipino cagers' first game against Kazakhstan on Thursday morning at the GBK Basketball Hall.
Led by PBA commissioner Willie Marcial, league officials came over bearing with them the good news of Fil-Am Jordan Clarkson finally being given clearance by the NBA to play for the national team handled by coach Yeng Guiao.
Due to the unavailability of a direct flight from Los Angeles to Indonesia, the 26-year-old Clarkson however, won't be able to suit up in the 11 a.m. encounter against the Kazakhs as he'll arrive in Jakarta at about the same time of the game itself.
Still, that wouldn't dampen the spirit of the entire board which came in full force as its way of showing support to the national team, whose core is made up of Rain or Shine players.
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"Yan naman talaga ang napag-usapan ng board even before na sama-sama kaming susuporta sa team," said Marcial, adding some of the board members even had to cancel previous engagements for them to be able to join the trip.
Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) Secretary General Patrick Gregorio, who is also alternate TnT Katropa alternate board of governor, also left together with the group.
Also part of the board's itinerary is to support Filipino athletes competing in other sports, as well as watch the spectacular opening ceremony on Saturday at the Gelora Bung Karno Sports Complex, where the 26-year-old Clarkson is tasked to be the country's official flag bearer during the traditional parade of nations.
The board will be returning to the country on August 19th as the season-ending Governors Cup is already underway, although it meant missing the national team's second game against China, which will see Clarkson playing his first ever game in a Philippine jersey.(RG)
