The first practice sessions of Jordan Clarkson and members of the Gilas Pilipinas national men’s basketball team will happen on Wednesday at the Meralco Gym.
Clarkson and the Gilas squad arrived in the country separately on Tuesday.
The Utah Jazz star and his entourage planed into Manila in an early morning flight.
Later in the afternoon, the Chot Reyes-coached Philippine team came home, just hours after Gilas pulled off a 63-48 victory over an Iran B Team to finish its campaign in the 2023 Heyuan WUS International Basketball Tournament on Sunday at Xiaoqing Sport Center with three wins and a loss.
With Clarkson around, Gilas will have 16 days more to prepare for the 2023 FIBA World Cup, where the Philippines takes on Dominican Republic in its first game on August 25.
The Philippines is bunched with with the Dominican Republic, Angola and Italy in Group A.
“I think we got a good chance,” said Clarkson on the Philippines’ bracketing.
During the final stretch of its preparations, Gilas will have a pair of friendlies with Mexico and Montenegro.
Clarkson last played for Gilas in August last year during Window 5 of the Asian Qualifiers.
Members of the Gilas pool who went to Xiaoqing were June Mar Fajardo, Japeth Aguilar, Kiefer Ravena, CJ Perez, Roger Pogoy, Dwight Ramos, Bobby Ray Parks Jr., Chris Newsome, Calvin Oftana, Thirdy Ravena, Rhenz Abando, and AJ Edu.
NBA hopeful Kai Sotto is also expected join the Gilas practices this week. Peter Atencio