ALLAN THE MAN

Jordan Clarkson attended to his commitments as Smart endorser and spent a brief vacation in Boracay before flying to Taiwan. 

The NBA sophomore player will be watching the Gilas-Chinese Taipei game from the sidelines in his attempt to familiarize himself with the national team's plays.

Last Friday, Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) Executive Director Sonny Barrios told Philstar that Clarkson's documents are already 95 percent ready for submission to the FIBA Central Board. 

There is also a plan of SBP President Manny V. Pangilinan and other SBP officials to have a conference with Clarkson's father and the Lakers' General Manager Mitch Kupchak in the United States should FIBA rule in the Philippines' favor on his eligibility as a local player. 

Meanwhile, Gilas coach Tab Baldwin elected to sit out Ranidel de Ocampo, Jimmy Alapag, Jc Intal and Aldrech Ramos as the tournament only allows 12-man roster each game. 

De Ocampo is set to see action in their next game against Asian rival South Korea on Monday as he is slowly getting back to tip top shape after sitting out the last two weeks with a hamstring injury. 

Alapag is also recovering from a quad injury he sustained in Estonia while Intal is still grieving his father-in-law's death. Ramos, meanwhile, will be part of the rotation of players who will sit out during the tournament.

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