FINGERS crossed.
The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas is anxiously awaiting the FIBA’s decision on Justin Brownlee’s doping issue and hopes it would favor the beloved Gilas Pilipinas naturalized star.
SBP executive director Erika Dy said they are praying Brownlee would only be meted a three-month suspension that will allow him to suit up for the Philippine five in the first window of the FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers next month.
“Wala pa (replacement). As much as possible, we would want Justin Brownlee to play. But we have yet to wait for the decision from FIBA,” Dy said. “We were told that it would come anytime this week.
“So, we’re hoping that he gets the lowest level of suspension, which is a three-month period that would end on Feb. 8, just in time for the first window. We’re hoping for that,” she added.
The amiable national cage executive called the ban as “provisional or voluntary suspension” since Brownlee has not seen action in any tournament after he failed a doping test during the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China where he played the hero’s role in Gilas’s golden triumph.
Brownlee, 35, was suspected to have gotten the banned substance Carboxy-THC, which is linked to Cannabis use, during his medication and recovery after undergoing surgery to remove bone spurs on his foot before his Asiad stint.
National coach Tim Cone tapped pro league stars Scottie Thompson, Chris Newsome, Calvin Oftana, CJ Perez, Jamie Malonzo, and June Mar Fajardo in the national team training pool along with Japanese B.League imports Dwight Ramos, AJ Edu, Carl Tamayo, and Kai Sotto and UAAP MVP Kevin Quiambao.
Edu will be sidelined for the first round of the qualifiers due to a torn meniscus injury.
Brownlee will take the naturalized player spot, pending FIBA’s decision regarding his eligibility in coming tournaments.
Gilas will kick off its bid on the road against Hong Kong on Feb. 22 and will take on Chinese Taipei three days later at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig.
The second round of the qualifiers is set for Nov. 21 and Nov. 24.
Gilas wound up with a 1-4 slate under former strategist Chot Reyes for 24th in the 32-team field in the last World Cup the Philippines co-hosted with Japan and Indonesia.
The Filipino cagers will face a daunting task–seemingly a Mission Impossible–to gain a berth to the Paris Olympics.
The Philippines is bracketed with host and world No. 8 Latvia, and No. 23 Georgia in Group A in the Olympic qualifying tournament.
The 38th-ranked Gilas side must finish in the top two of its group to advance to the crossover semifinals against the top two of Group B, which includes No. 12 Brazil, No. 17 Montenegro, and No. 67 Cameroon.
The winners of the crossover semis will clash for the lone slot to the Olympics.
“Coach Tim has to make a decision whether we are just going to go with 11 players, or he fills that in with a replacement player for this window,” Dy said. “(Cone) really doesn’t believe that he should prepare with injuries.
“It makes sense. We should believe that the 12-man line-up is intact and healthy. That’s what we have to look forward to. But as you’ve said, injuries do happen, and we will deal with these injuries as we get there.”
