Fans are anticipating a battle royale between Jordan Clarkson of Gilas Pilipinas and the Lebanon Cedars’ Wael Arakji when the two teams clash in the FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers’ fourth window on Thursday at the Stade Nouhad Naufal at Zouk Mikael in the Keserwan District in Lebanon.
When the Cedars took the runner-up honors in the 2022 FIBA Asia Cup, Arakji emerged as the tournament’s MVP and top scorer with his average of 26.0 points per game.
Clarkson, who plays professionally for the Utah Jazz in the NBA, and Arakji are among the top players expected to shine in the fourth window, along with Japan’s Yudai Baba, Australia’s Luke Travers and New Zealand’s Isaac Fotu.
The Philippines has already qualified for the World Cup as co-hosts, but they are still trying to make an impression of how good the team can be, not only in their clash with the Cedars, but in their home game with Saudi Arabia on Monday.
Clarkson’s name was included in a pool of 13 players forwarded by the Philippine side to FIBA, the world’ governing body for basketball, before the team left for Beirut on Monday.
Once named Sixth Man of the Year in the NBA, the 6’4” Clarkson will be on his second tour of duty for the Philippine national team, having played already for Gilas in the 2018 Jakarta Asian Games.
The final list of players who will make the composition of the two teams will be revealed on Wednesday.
It was Arakji’s leadership which pushed the two-time defending champion Lebanon to the 2022 finals of the Asia Cup against against eventual champion Australia.
In that game, the 6’4” Arakji led with 28 points.
In the ongoing Asian Qualifiers, Arakji has normed an average of 15.5 points.
Scouts don’t have an idea on the strength of Team Philippines, which is sending practically a new team of pros from the PBA and Asian leagues.
The Cedars, who have 3-1 win-loss record in Group E, will be taking on a team assembled by Chot Reyes barely days before the tournament.
Gilas, also bannered by Japan B.League veterans Bobby Ray Parks, the Ravena brothers Kiefer and Thirdy and NBA prospect, 7’2” Kai Sotto, have a 2-2 slate in third place.
