Despite club's promotion bid, Jordan Heading chooses country, accepts Gilas call-up

Jordan Heading is joining Gilas amid Nagasaki's ongoing battle for B.League promotion. B.League (file photo)

By Ivan Saldajeno

PASIG—Despite the Japan B.League giving way to the Japanese national team's games in the FIBA World Cup Qualifiers, only the first division games have been postponed ahead of the February window.

This means those in the lower tiers continued on with their respective seasons, which especially holds true for Division 2 team Nagasaki Velca, which is chasing for promotion to the top flight.

However, for its Asian import, Jordan Heading, playing for the Philippine team has a bigger bearing than chasing promotion for now.

So when he told Nagasaki that he has been called up to the Gilas Pilipinas pool for the February window, they quickly released him for national team duties.

"My management is really supportive. They recognize how much of an honor it is to play for your country," Heading told Dugout Philippines on Monday night after the Gilas practice at the Meralco Gym here.

After an agreement with the Velca before flying to the Philippines, the streak-shooting guard is out for their next four games including this past weekend's doubleheader at home against the Kumamoto Volters.

While it seemed like Heading's absence hardly mattered as Nagasaki swept Kumamoto in its two-game series with an 83-69 win on Saturday and a 76-68 victory in the Sunday rematch, the result would have probably been more lopsided if he was there.

However, according to Heading, the Velca understand that playing for the flag comes first.

"They understand how much of an honor it is, and it is good for the club as well," Heading further said.

Currently in fourth place at 28-13, Nagasaki is in a good position of making the B2 League playoffs, which could bring them closer to joining the first division.

Heading hopes that as he returns back to Japan after the sixth window, his club will play more inspired basketball as the season nears its homestretch.

"Hopefully, we can hit our stride. I think we'll be a tough team to beat in the playoffs with multi-game series, so hopefully, we can make the improvements that we need to make and hopefully, we can see these B1 boys next year," he concluded.

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