ALLAN THE MAN

IS the dreaded Pinatubo Trio about to reincarnate at Gilas Pilipinas?

From the looks of it, another set of Pampanga’s best similar to San Sebastian’s deadly trio a few years ago is coming together for the national team

After weeks of agonizing wait for some of the key players that included the reigning back-to-back MVP of the PBA to show up in the national team's practices, despair turned into hope when a rising star from the world's best league came up to make a stand.

Here is an NBA player, who is just coming off a stellar first season in the league where he was named to the All-Rookie First Team, showing his desire to play for the national team. For a basketball-crazy nation that is starving of a star in the NBA who can they call their own, Jordan Clarkson of the Los Angeles Lakers could fit that bill.

Filipino-American guard Jordan Clarkson assured on Thursday that he 'sincerely wants to play for Gilas Pilipinas,' just moments after his father cast doubts on a possible appearance for the Philippine team bound for the FIBA Asia Championship in Changsha, China next month.

In his first statement since arriving in his mother's homeland on Monday, Clarkson made official his desire to play for 'flag and country' if he is given a clearance by the Los Angeles Lakers and the NBA and is declared eligible to play for the Philippines by world governing body Fiba.

Los Angeles Lakers guard Jordan Clarkson will not suit up for Philippine national basketball team anytime soon.

In an email, Mike Clarkson, Jordan’s father, cited timing as a factor in his son’s decision to pass on the chance to don the country’s colors, emphasizing Jordan’s current commitment with the Lakers in the NBA.

It’s happening. Filipino-American NBA player Jordan Clarkson dropped by the practice of the Philippine national men’s basketball team on Wednesday night at the Meralco Gym. 

Clarkson has been invited to “observe” Gilas Pilipinas training, but he was seen having a more active role. He wore a practice jersey while also doing warm-ups and drills with the players.

Lebron James may be the Most Valuable Tweeter in US sports, but the world No. 1 ranking belongs to football superstar Cristiano Ronaldo.

The Real Madrid and Portugal striker’s tweet is valued at US$260,000, according to Opendorse.

STAR forward Marc Pingris admitted he is aware that trade speculations have started to swirl, shortly after he got the go-signal to rejoin the Gilas Pilipinas pool ahead of the FIBA Asia championship.

Pingris has long been an 'untouchable' in a Star team he helped lead to six PBA championships including a grand slam in 2014, but rumors have persisted that he's no longer on the 'protected list' since rejoining Gilas.