Filipino-American player Jordan Clarkson expressed his desire to return to Gilas Pilipinas, which is still in the middle of its campaign to qualify for the 2027 Fiba World Cup.
Clarkson last donned the national team jersey in 2023, when he competed for the Philippines in the World Cup hosted by Manila.
With another global tournament approaching, the NBA champion with the New York Knicks threw his name in the hat for a possible return to Gilas Pilipinas.
‘Another World Cup is coming up, and I want to be there,’ Clarkson said in an interview with GQ Philippines.
‘There haven’t been so many Filipino-Americans in the league, and Filipinos, period. So knowing that I get to represent that and kind of change the narrative in any way that I can, that’s what I’m trying to do.’
Clarkson fueled Gilas’ only win in the 2023 World Cup when he dropped 34 points in the Philippines’ 96-75 beatdown of China.
In five games with Gilas, he averaged 26 points, 5.2 assists and 5.6 rebounds per night.
The Philippines, however, has yet to secure a spot in the 2027 Doha Games and currently carries a 4-4 record in Group E of the Asian Qualifiers.