BROWNLEE PUWEDE NANG MAGLARO PARA SA GILAS PILIPINAS

MAKAPAGLALARO na si Justin Brownlee para sa Gilas Pilipinas Men sa first window ng FIBA Asia Cup 2025 Qualifiers, ayon sa Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP).

Ang FIBA ay nag-isyu kay Brownlee ng Notice of Charge na may three-month period of ineligibility kaugnay sa anti-doping rule violation nito sa 19th Asian Games noong Oktubre 2023.

“We’re elated that the consequences FIBA issued does not prevent Justin Brownlee to play for Gilas in the upcoming window,” sabi ni SBP President Al Panlilio. “Having him as our naturalized player alongside some of our locals that he has already played with before will be beneficial to the squad.”

Sasamahan ni Brownlee sina Barangay Ginebra San Miguel teammates Scottie Thompson at Jamie Malonzo sa koponan na pangungunahan nina head coach Tim Cone at team manager Richard Del Rosario.

Ang iba pa sa koponan ay sina Chris Newsome, Calvin Oftana, CJ Perez, June Mar Fajardo, Dwight Ramos, AJ Edu, Carl Tamayo, Kai Sotto, at Kevin Quiambao.

“Justin Brownlee is a big part of the team and the program moving forward and having him means we can hit the ground running,” ani Cone. “He’s already played with most of the guys so chemistry will already be there. He can now ramp up his conditioning and be ready to go once his suspension is lifted.”

Si Brownlee ay isang six-time PBA champion at three-time Best Import of the Conference awardee. Noong nalkaraang taon ay pinangunahan niya ang Pilipinas sa pagbawi ng Southeast Asian Games at Asian Games men’s basketball gold medals.

Gayunman, ilang araw makaraang tulungan ni Brownlee ang bansa na tuldukan ang 61-year drought sa Asiad, inanunsiyo ng International Testing Agency na nagpositibo siya sa prohibited substance. Pinili niyang pagsilbihan ang provisional suspension period na nagsimula noong November 9, 2023, dahilan kung kaya hindi siya nakapaglaro sa title-retention bid ng Barangay Ginebra sa idinadaos na PBA 48th Season Commissioner’s Cup.

“Brownlee not playing a game since the gold-medal winning effort against Jordan hastened his return to the national team along with the fact that the banned substance he used was taken out-of-competition and unrelated to performance enhancement,” ayon sa SBP.

“I can’t wait to play basketball again and put all of this behind me,” sabi ni Brownlee. “It’s always been an honor to represent the Philippines and I’m happy to be given the chance again.”

Makakaharap ng Gilas ang Hong Kong sa February 22 sa Tsuen Wan Stadium at ang Chinese Taipei sa February 25 sa PhilSports Arena at ang tickets para sa home game ay mabibili na via smtickets.com.