It’s all over for the Philippines at the FIBA World Cup following a 90-83 loss to Italy, but Jazz guard Jordan Clarkson decided to leave his mark first.
Clarkson, a member of the Philippines, scored 23 points on 8-for-20 shooting in defeat, also collecting seven rebounds and six assists. That makes him the first player in World Cup history to score at least 20 and pass for more than five assists in each of his first three games.
But frankly, that’s really not what Clarkson was going for — given that the Philippines made a bit of history of its own. Namely, it became the first host team to lose all of its first three games since Columbia in 1982.
Anyway, Clarkson’s Jazz teammate, small forward Simone Fontecchio, led Italy with 18 points. Former Mavericks and Pelicans big man Nicolo Melli added 10 points, seven rebounds and seven assists.
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