Knicks' Clarkson, Spurs' Harper give Philippines NBA Finals representation
MANILA, Philippines — Whichever way wind blows, a Filipino will be hoisting up the NBA championship trophy.
With the San Antonio Spurs clinching a ticket to the NBA finals following a 111-103 Game 7 win over defending champions Oklahoma City Thunder on Sunday (Manila time). they will be facing a well-rested New York Knicks squad.
Amid the seemingly never-ending storylines in the best-of-seven series, there is also the Pinoy Pride angle, with the Knicks’ Jordan Clarkson facing off against the Spurs’ Dylan Harper.
Both players have Filipino blood, and one of them will be lifting the coveted Larry O’Brien trophy after a race-to-four series.
Clarkson, who has represented Gilas Pilipinas in international basketball competitions, barged into his second finals after the Knicks swept the Cleveland Cavaliers in the East Finals.
The spitfire guard, who has been a solid rotation player off the bench for New York, became the first player with Filipino lineage to make two NBA finals appearances. He earlier reached the championship round with the LeBron James-led Cavaliers back in 2018.
Harper, for his part, made the finals in his first year in the NBA.
The second overall pick of the 2025 NBA Draft came up big in the clutch for the Spurs.
With the Thunder trying to close the gap, Harper hit a tough tip-in that pushed the lead to 11 anew, 104-93, with 4:26 remaining.
After a jumper by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Harper answered with a triple that put the game out of reach, 107-95, with 3:46 to go.
And from that point on, San Antonio did just enough to get the win.
Asked about facing off against fellow Filipino Clarkson in the finals, Harper stressed that his focus remains on the task at hand.
“I think my focus is on these next games, this next series,” he said.
“But obviously it's a blessing to represent the Philippines and know where I'm from. So I mean I think me and Jordan Clarkson do a great job of doing that, but I mean my biggest thing is just focusing on what's in front of me,” he added.
And now, it will boil down to a best-of-seven series before the first NBA player with Filipino blood to win a title.
Game 1 of the Finals will be on Thursday (Manila time) in San Antonio.
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