The 6-foot-4 Clay, runaway statistical points leader in last year’s MBA while playing for the FedEx Laguna Lakers, signed up with the Waves yesterday, giving up his bid for a slot in the Philippine team to the Busan Asian Games in September.
Clay was considered a sure bet to the Korea-bound Philippine team, but was unable to secure his citizenship confirmation from the Department of Justice in time.
Together with 6-foot-6 Romel Adducul, the 2000 MVP while donning the LBC Batangas Blades colors, Clay will spearhead the Waves’ bid in the Northern Conference and the national finals.
Pangasinan coach Lawrence Chongson said he has trimmed the aspirants to 18 and would make the final cut early next month.
Among those considered as shoo-ins are Fil-Am Rob Johnson, former Andok’s San Juan Knights’ Randy Alcantara, Gilbert Castillo and Vilmer Banares, former Stag stalwart Paul Du and former Iloilo Megavoltz and ICTSI-La Salle star Dominic Uy.