BROWNLEE BACK IN MANILA TO REJOIN GILAS PILIPINAS

JUSTIN Brownlee arrived in Manila early Tuesday morning and is expected to join Gilas Pilipinas under new head coach Tim Cone when team practice officially begins on February 15.

The 6-foot-4 Brownlee has been cleared to play by FIBA in the first window of the Asia Cup 2025 Qualifiers where the Philippines faces Hong Kong on February 22 and Chinese Taipei on February 25.

The world’s basketball governing body handed down a three-month period of ineligibility for the resident Ginebra reinforcement after testing positive for carboxy-THC, a prohibited substance linked to cannabis, during the 19th Asian Games last year.

But the green light for Brownlee to play was announced officially last week by the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas.

“It’s good to be back,” was Brownlee’s short reply when interviewed by News5 reporter Martie Bautista early Tuesday morning where the Gilas naturalized player was accompanied by Philippine team manager Richard del Rosario.

Brownlee last saw action for Gilas Pilipinas in the 2023 Asian Games, leading Gilas to the men’s basketball gold medal in Hangzhou, China, ending the country’s 61-year title drought.

The 35-year-old Brownlee will be playing for the latest national squad, along with Barangay Ginebra teammates Scottie Thompson and Jamie Malonzo, Meralco wingman Chris Newsome, TNT scorer Calvin Oftana, San Miguel Beer stars June Mar Fajardo and CJ Perez, Japan B.League Asian imports Dwight Ramos, Carl Tamayo, AJ Edu and Kai Sotto, and reigning UAAP Most Valuable Player Kevin Quiambao of La Salle.