ALLAN THE MAN

The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas remained hopeful Fil-Am NBA player Jordan Clarkson will be able to join Gilas Pilipinas in its campaign in the 2015 FIBA Asia Championship slated Sept. 23-Oct. 3 in Changsha, China.

“It’s still a work in progress but with better clarity,” said SBP vice chairman Ricky Vargas after a meeting with Los Angeles Lakers team president Jeanie Buss and general manager Mitch Kupchak in LA.

The Ateneo Lady Eagles outshone the National University Lady Bulldogs in a thrilling four-set duel, 15-25, 25-19, 25-21, and 25-23, to formalize its claim on the No. 1 spot in the Final Four of the Shakey's V-League Season 12 Collegiate Conference on Saturday at the San Juan Arena.

The Lady Eagles blew a three-point lead late in the fourth set, but fought back from 17-20 down behind Alyssa Valdez, Amy Ahomiro, and Bea de Leon to notch their seventh straight win.

Even with the deadline for submission of Final 12 around the corner, Gilas Pilipinas coach Tab Baldwin is in no hurry to make his decision.

He has got an idea but he’d rather keep it to himself until they’re in Changsha, China for the team managers’ meeting on the eve of the 2015 FIBA Asia Championship.

NBA MVP Stephen Curry knows the pride of playing for one's country, having won the gold medal for the United States in last year's FIBA Basketball World Cup.

And the NBA's reigning Most Valuable Player has some words of advice for Gilas Pilipinas, which is set to go into battle in the FIBA Asia Championship later this month.

The 2015 William Jones Cup, a top-level international basketball tournament of FIBA Asia. The tournament will be held in Taiwan from 29 August–6 September 2015. Competing Teams: Iran, Japan, South Korea, Philippines (Gilas Pilipinas), Chinese Taipei-A, Chinese Taipei-B, Russia (Spartak Primorye), New Zealand (Wellington Saints) & USA (USA Select-Overtake)

The Philippine national team defeated a selection from the United States, 78-74, but not before a late scare for coach Tab Baldwin and company on Saturday in Taiwan. (READ: Gilas Pilipinas defeats USA, moves 1 win away from Jones Cup silver )

Gilas Pilipinas led by as much as 18 points in the third period, but allowed the Americans to come roaring back in the final period. Led by former PBA imports Marquin Chandler and Calvin Warner, the US squad whittled down the deficit all the way down to just three points, 74-71, with 31 seconds left.

The Gilas Pilipinas, Philippine national men’s basketball team, despite playing without a natural point guard, denied a late comeback by USA-Select Overtake, 78-74, to move within reach of the silver medal in the 37th William Jones Cup Saturday at the Xinzhuang Gymnasium in New Taipei City, Taiwan.

With the win, the Filipinos (5-2) only need to do the job against the still-winless Chinese Taipei B on Sunday to cop their first silver medal in tournament history. Iran already secured the gold after finishing with the best record (7-1).