Jordan Clarkson, Kai Sotto and co: All in for a Filipino basketball year to remember 

"In Philippines, basketball is the number one thing."

This is according to Jordan Clarkson.

After posting career-best numbers with the Utah Jazz, Clarkson is hoping to lead the Philippines men's national basketball team into unknown recent territory at the 2023 FIBA World Cup on home soil.

The only time the nation has previously made it out of the group phase was back in 1954 when they won the bronze medal.

And the Gilas will be desperate to improve on their showing at the 2019 edition when they went down to heavy pool defeats to Italy and Serbia before going down in overtime to Angola.

Two further losses in classification games saw them earn the unwelcome tag of worst team in the tournament, placed 32 out of 32.

Big center June Mar Fajardo, aka the Kraken, and guards CJ Perez and RR Pogoy are among those that remain from the 2019 squad with Utah Jazz star Clarkson, young sensation Kai Sotto and prolific scorer Dwight Ramos hoping to propel the team to greater heights at home.

Before that, there is great pride at stake in the SEA Games where Perez and Scottie Thompson are in coach Chot Reyes' squad which is seeking redemption after Indonesia denied them a 14th consecutive crown in Vietnam last May.

Jordan Clarkson looking forward to "amazing" World Cup experience

Having acquired his Filipino passport after the age of 16 through his grandmother, Clarkson can only represent his adopted country as a naturalised player in FIBA competitions with just one permitted per roster.

His presence means Justin Donta Brownlee, who made his Gilas debut this year and had 41 points and 12 rebounds in a narrow defeat to Jordan in the final World Cup Asian qualifier in February, will have to make way for the nine-year NBA veteran.

But Brownlee's presence in Cambodia should help ensure Philippines regain their SEA Games title.

Clarkson first appeared for the national team at the 2018 Asian Games where he averaged 26 points per game to lead the squad to fifth place, their best showing for 16 years.

The 2021 NBA Sixth Man of the Year made his FIBA competition bow last August in the second round of the World Cup qualifiers, scoring 27 points in the defeat to Lebanon.

He then made his home debut for the Gilas, delighting the fans with a first-quarter buzzer-beater almost from the halfway line as he recorded 23 points and six assists in a crushing win over Saudi Arabia.

That experience has left the Tampa-born guard, who turns 31 in June, wanting more.

Speaking to the NBA at the All-Star Weekend, as reported by FIBA, he said, "Playing for your country means a lot. Just being able to represent it, go out there and compete... just to see the love.

"In Philippines, basketball is the number one thing."

And the prospect of playing in a World Cup there is something he is relishing with Philippines playing their group games in Manila's Araneta Coliseum.

He added, "Just being able to have all those teams, countries come... hosts in the World Cup. It's going to be an amazing experience, people seeing the country, being able to experience that.

"Seeing the love people have for basketball there, I wouldn't be surprised if every game is sold out. It's going to be really loud there and everybody is going to feel that love and support when you walk around the city, while playing games."

Kai Sotto thriving in Japan ahead of World Cup debut, receives advice from Dirk Nowitzki

Kai Sotto is largely enjoying his first months at the Hiroshima Dragonflies in Japan's B.League.

Since leaving Adelaide 36ers in February, Sotto has had a number of double-doubles in Japan as he takes another step towards a possible career in the NBA.

He has also encountered fellow Gilas in Japan, including joking around with Kiefer Ravena who plies his trade with Shiga Lakes.

At last weekend's World Cup draw, German legend Dirk Nowitzki gave his thoughts on Sotto who went undrafted last year.

He told local media, as reported by ABS-CBN, "He's got to work on his skill. Make your body strong to take the pounding in the NBA.

"Work on the handles, work on the shots, on the post moves. It's hard because the skill level is very high in the NBA. Just keep on working."

When the B.League season ends in July, Sotto will likely head to Las Vegas in the NBA Summer League and hope to impress enough to be signed as a free agent.

If that were to happen, he would become the first born-and-bred Filipino to make the big league.

As far as the national team goes, Sotto has made occasional appearances in World Cup Asia qualifiers, starring with 16 points and seven rebounds in last November's win over Jordan.

Despite the presence of the experienced 'Kraken' Fajardo, Sotto is expected to fill the gap left by Andray Blatche as the Gilas' first-choice center at the World Cup.

He might even come up against some future NBA rivals.