Los Angeles Lakers sophomore guard Jordan Clarkson was spotted practicing with Gilas Pilipinas, the national basketball team of the Philippines, on Wednesday.

Several news outlets in the Philippines posted photos online, showing Clarkson wearing a Philippine national team practice jersey, which created speculation that he is serious in his bid to play for the Philippines.

Clarkson, who initially went to the Philippines for a promotional appearance, even had a separate shooting session after practice.

The 23-year-old guard is reportedly eligible to play for the Philippine national squad because his mother, Annette, is a Filipino.

Under FIBA rules, a player with dual citizenship could play for a country if he was able to secure a passport from that country before turning 16 years old.

According to Rappler, Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP), the national basketball federation of the Philippines, confirmed that Clarkson is a Philippine passport holder since he was 12 years old.

SBP director Sonny Barrios told Rappler that they were aware since May that Clarkson could play for the team, but they did not announce it to the public because they required Clarkson and his camp to submit the needed documents to prove his citizenship.

Clarkson and his camp reportedly submitted the documents and were already forward to FIBA. The world-governing body for basketball asked for supporting documents like the birth certificate of Clarkson's mother to prove that she was indeed born in the Philippines.

Barrios confirmed that they have already forwarded the supporting documents and they are now waiting for the decision on whether Clarkson could play as a local for Gilas Pilipinas in future international competitions.

If Clarkson qualifies as a local, he could eventually team up with former Brooklyn Nets forward Andray Blatche, who represented the Philippines in the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup as a naturalized player.

Gilas Pilipinas is set to compete in the 2015 FIBA Asia Championship, where the winner will automatically earn a ticket to the 2016 Rio Olympics. It remains to be seen whether or not Clarkson will be able to suit up even if SBP's request to allow him to play as a local will be granted because the basketball federation should ask permission from the Lakers.

Lakers spokesman John Black told Philippine Daily Inquirer that they are aware of the situation, but they are not ready to give further statement.

"We know that he is over there (in the Philippines) having conversations with the National team and other governing organizations," Black said. "But we have no additional information that we could share with you at this time."

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