GILAS Pilipinas naturalized star Justin Brownlee quietly left the country nearly two months ago after Ginebra fell to TNT in the PBA mid-season finals.
The 6-foot-5 Brownlee now has a new mission—to lead the Philippine five anew in the FIBA Asia Cup in August in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Unless the world-governing body metes out what could be a delayed suspension, Brownlee is expected to suit up anew for the Filipino cagers.
“We do expect him to play in the Asia Cup. I know there were reports of his doping exam last November against New Zealand,” Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas executive director Erika Dy said. “We received that report, but just to clarify, there’s no suspension at this point in time.
“We don’t expect any. There’s just a lot of delicate details that we cannot discuss because doping is a very delicate matter, a sensitive matter, so it’s very personal to the person, that’s why Brownlee and his lawyers are handling it,” the charismatic cage official added.
Brownlee, 37, received notice of an “adverse analytical finding.” According to the United States Anti-Doping Agency, the finding is a result of a prohibited substance and normally constitutes a positive result.
The FIBA issued Brownlee a Notice of Charge carrying a proposed three (3) month period of Ineligibility over his anti-doping rule violation during the Hangzhou Asian Games in October 2023.
But still without a ruling, SBP President Al Panlilio is likewise leaning on Brownlee not getting banned this time, with guarded optimism.
The charges of National coach Tim Cone will do battle in the prestigious continental meet formerly known as the FIBA Asia Championship from Aug. 5 to 17.
Gilas is pooled in Group D with New Zealand, Chinese Taipei, and Iraq.
Dy also assured Brownlee is recovering well from surgery on a dislocated right thumb he suffered in the last pro league Big Dance.
“Si Justin never reported that he just had surgery on his hand,” she said. “He’s supposed to be back in a month or two months and then okay na siya. So we do expect him to play in the Asia Cup.”
With Brownlee likely to backstop Gilas, it now boils down to preparations—enough practice time and tune-up games—for the tourney.
