AFTER weeks of uncertainty and drama, Gilas Pilipinas finally kicks off its campaign in the 2018 Asian Games today against Kazakhstan at the GBK Basketball Hall in Jakarta, Indonesia.

The Philippines first pulled out its team from the basketball event following an ugly brawl with Australia in a FIBA World Cup qualifier that had majority of its team and two of its coaches slapped with suspensions from international play.

The Samahang Basketball ng Pilipinas (SBP), the country’s basketball governing body, had a change of heart and decided to send a team coached by Yeng Guiao and composed mostly of players from PBA team Rain or Shine.

The final 12-man roster is composed of ageless center Asi Taulava, James Yap, Paul Lee, JP Erram Stanley Pringle, Maverick Ahanmisi, Chris Tiu, Raymond Almazan, Beau Belga, Christian Standhardinger and Cleveland Cavaliers guard Jordan Clarkson.

After getting the nod of the Asian Games committee, the NBA disallowed Clarkson from playing in the Asian Games last Sunday because it wasn’t one of the tournaments that was agreed upon by the NBA and FIBA.

But after a plea from the Philippines’ side, the NBA granted the Philippines and also China a special exception for the NBA players to play for their respective countries. China has two NBA players in its roster - Houston Rockets center Zhou Qi and Dallas Mavericks forward Ding Yanyuhang.

Clarkson will not be playing today as he arrives the same moment as the game schedule.

The Philippines’ next schedule in Group D is against China on Aug. 21. The top two teams of each group advance to the quarterfinals of the tournament. (EKA)