Clarkson is open to the possibility of another stint with Gilas at the next FIBA Basketball World Cup, which is scheduled for 2027.
By then, he will be 35 years old, an age when many athletes begin to experience a decline in performance due to accumulated wear and tear on their bodies. However, Clarkson remains optimistic about his ability to continue playing for the Philippines if the team qualifies.
At 31 years old, he still feels energetic and believes that age is just a number.
Following his impressive 34-point performance in Gilas’ 96-75 victory over China, he expressed his desire to continue representing his country. He emphasized that he’s not ready to retire from international competition and hopes to wear the Philippine jersey again in the future.
Clarkson’s outstanding performance in the game against China, where he scored 24 points in the third quarter alone, was a fitting way to potentially conclude his current stint as a Gilas Pilipinas player.
He displayed remarkable shooting accuracy, making 11-of-18 field goals, including 5-of-10 from beyond the arc, and also contributed with three assists and two rebounds in 33 minutes of play.
According to him, his success in the third quarter was the result of great teamwork and effective screens that allowed him to showcase his scoring abilities. (ai/mnm)
