Dylan Harper, Jordan Clarkson carry PH heritage in NBA Finals

Dylan Harper #2 of the San Antonio Spurs drives to the basket against Tyler Kolek #13 and Jordan Clarkson #00 of the New York Knicks in the fourth quarter of the championship game of the Emirates NBA Cup at T-Mobile Arena on December 16, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Ethan Miller/Getty Images/AFP

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines will be well represented in the NBA Finals featuring the San Antonio Spurs, who have fast-rising rookie Dylan Harper, and the New York Knicks with former Sixth Man of the Year Jordan Clarkson.

Harper’s mother, Maria, was born and raised in Bataan before moving to the United States when she was seven years old. Clarkson’s mom, Annette Davis, also has Filipino roots and was born in Angeles City, Pampanga.

Harper and the Spurs booked a title date with the Knicks, who swept the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Finals, after dethroning the Oklahoma City Thunder on the road in Game 7 on Sunday (Manila time).

READ: Dylan Harper joins list of players with Filipino roots in NBA

“It’s a blessing to represent the Philippines, where I’m from. I think Jordan Clarkson and I are doing a great job doing that, but I think the biggest thing is what’s in front of me,” said Harper during the post-game press conference following the Spurs’ 111-103 victory.

The 33-year-old Clarkson, who has represented the Philippines in the Fiba World Cup and Asian Games, is making his second NBA Finals appearance since 2018 as part of the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Interestingly, this year’s finals is a rematch of the 1999 edition where the Spurs beat the Knicks in five.

San Antonio is back in the championship round for the first time since winning it all in 2014 with Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili, Tony Parker and Kawhi Leonard as their core.

The NBA Finals tips off on Thursday in San Antonio.