MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine men’s basketball team will hold on the slim chance that Filipino-American NBA player Jordan Clarkson will be allowed to play in the 2018 Asian Games.

National team head coach Yeng Guiao bared that they have reserved a spot for Clarkson in the final 12-man Asiad lineup despite the uncertainty of him actually suiting up. 

“We’re still working on the procedures,” Guiao told reporters about Clarkson’s status after unveiling the lineup on Friday, August 10, at the Meralco Gym. 

“So far, wala pang maliwanag (nothing is clear) but we put him in the lineup just to make sure if all of those requirements are complied with, he has a slot in the team.” 

Clarkson will join Rain or Shine players James Yap, Chris Tiu, Gabe Norwood, Maverick Ahanmisi, Beau Belga and Raymond Almazan, who will form half of the team.

Magnolia’s Paul Lee, GlobalPort’s Stanley Pringle, Blackwater’s JP Erram and San Miguel’s Christian Standhardinger – who were all named in Guiao’s wishlist – were all shoo-ins in the final roster. 

Asi Taulava, a member of Guiao’s 2009 Powerade Pilipinas, completes the Asiad squad.

TNT’s Don Trollano, who was supposed to occupy Clarkson’s slot, and Gilas cadets Ricci Rivero and Kobe Paras failed to make the cut. 

The Nationals will fly to Jakarta on Sunday, August 12, and only have a few days to gear up for Kazakhstan in their opening game on August 16. (LOOK: 2018 Asian Games Gilas Pilipinas schedule)– Rappler.com