Filipino-American Jordan Clarkson has been cleared to join the Philippines basketball team at the 2018 Asian Games in Indonesia.
"[The] NBA gave a one-time exception for this Asian Games for Jordan Clarkson and the two players from China," SBP president Al Panlilio said in a message to ESPN5.
NBA Deputy Commissioner and COO Mark Tatum relayed the news to Panlilio over the phone.
Clarkson is scheduled to arrive in Jakarta on Thursday at 10 a.m. local time and will miss the Philippines' first game of the competition against Kazakhstan.
"My heart is full of gratitude for everyone who helped make this happen. See you all very soon," Clarkson wrote on his Facebook page after being informed of the decision.
China, which is in the same group as the Philippines, has two NBA players in its lineup -- Zhou Qi of the Houston Rockets and Ding Yanyuhang of the Dallas Mavericks.
The Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) has tapped Clarkson to be the Philippines' flag-bearer for the opening ceremony on Saturday.
The NBA also released a statement on why the three players are being allowed to participate:
"The NBA's agreement with FIBA stipulates that NBA players can participate in the Olympics, the FIBA Basketball World Cup, Continental Cup competitions and associated qualifying tournaments. Because the Asian Games are not one of those competitions, NBA players under contract are unable to participate. However, due to a lack of clear communication of that agreement between the NBA and the Chinese and Philippines Basketball Federations, and after further discussions with both Federations, the NBA has agreed to provide this one-time exception."
The SBP released its own statement, thanking the NBA for giving Clarkson the green light to participate in the Asiad.
"Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas would like first to thank the NBA for allowing Jordan Clarkson to play for the Philippines in the 2018 Asian Games. This action of the NBA will no doubt cheer the hearts of Filipinos here and all over the world, as we warmly welcome Jordan into the Gilas Pilipinas team," the statement read.
National team head coach Yeng Guiao said the team is excited and happy to hear the news.
"It's a relief. ... It kind of lifts up the whole team's morale and the whole country's morale that we're able to be a little bit more competitive," Guiao said after the team's practice on Wednesday. "If Jordan Clarkson is playing, that's going to be a big help. But it will also take a little time to jell him in and fit him into the system of the team. That's a good problem to have."
Guiao, however, added that coaching a player like Clarkson comes with "a lot of expectations."
"It's a distinct honor and privilege [to coach Clarkson]," said Guiao. "It feels really satisfying as a coach to be able to coach such a talent. And at the same time, we have to look at it as a challenge - to bring out not only the best in him but the best of the whole team. That's the crucial factor here. With his talent and the team that we have, how can we maximize that talent being surrounded by the people we already have here."
ESPN5's Sid Ventura contributed to this report.