Former Los Angeles Lakers teammates Jordan Clarkson and Jeremy Lin could face each other next year at the 2017 FIBA Asia Cup, especially if the petition to relax the rules on eligibility of players with foreign blood gets approved by the FIBA central board.
Manny V. Pangilinan, the chief patron of the Philippine men's basketball team or Smart Gilas Pilipinas, told reporters in a press conference that he's planning to ask the FIBA central board to loosen up the rule that bars foreigners with Asian blood to compete at FIBA Asia sanctioned events, such as the FIBA Asia Cup.
"In January 2017, there's a FIBA central board meeting, but part of my mission, which was given to me by Sonny Barrios, is to persuade FIBA to relax their requirements for citizenship for eligibility of Fil-foreigners into the national team," Pangilinan stated, according ABS-CBN.com. "We just have to lobby the Central Board to get them to relax the eligibility requirements."
The 24-year Clarkson has already expressed his commitment to play with the Philippine basketball team in any major competition until the 2024 Olympics. Last year, the Philippines attempted to bring in Clarkson at the FIBA Asia Championship 2017, but their petition was denied due to lack of requirements proving citizenship.
If Pangilinan's petition gets a green light, the upcoming 2017 FIBA Asia Cup could feature a showdown between Clarkson and Jeremy Lin, who will reportedly suit up for Chinese Taipei in the said tournament.
Lin's brother, Joseph Lin, is already playing professional basketball for the Fubon Braves in the SBL. Reports indicated the Lin Brothers are being considered to join the pool, in which a 12-man Chinese Taipei squad will be formed.
Clarkson and Lin played together as a member of the Lakers during the 2014-15 season. Lin signed with the Charlotte Hornets the following year before landing a three-year, $38MM deal with the Brooklyn Nets last summer.
Clarkson, on the other hand, decided to stay L.A-bound for the next four years after signing a 4-year, $50M deal with the Lakers also this summer.
