The Philippines attacks the Olympic Games without their star. The Asian selection has in fact decided to do without Jordan Clarkson to play in its Olympic qualifying tournament this year.
Last February, ahead of the qualifications for the 2025 Asian Cup, the coach of “Gilas Pilipinas”, Tim Cone, assured that the Philippine national team was banking on continuity, relying on the group mobilized in this context . Hence this decision not to include the Jazz replacement back.
“ This tournament (qualifier for the 2025 Asian Cup) is preparation for the next one. We build the automatisms, our style of play, our philosophy and we try to obtain the support of the players », stated the technician whose approach seems to be supported by the local federation.
“ Coach Tim's program is that we always have the same squad. The shorter training periods will build up and the players will create cohesion. In the past it has been difficult for us. These shorter training periods make it easier for players to commit », Judges the executive director of the program, Erika Dy.
A majority of local players
The selection will therefore try to qualify for Paris with a group of 12 players, among which 8 play in the local championship. And she will therefore have to find other resources on the offensive level.
At the last World Cup, Jordan Clarkson finished second in the competition's top scorer, behind Luka Doncic, with an average of 26 points. The rear, who took around a third of his team's shots (41% success rate), was also the first creator.
We remind you that the Philippines, only 24th in their World Cup, are playing their TQO in Riga, in the pool of Latvia and Georgia. In the other group, there are Brazil, Montenegro and Cameroon.
