NATURALIZED star Justin Brownlee and heir apparent Bennie Boatwright suiting up together for Gilas Pilipinas in non-FIBA tournaments makes National coach Tim Cone doubly excited.
But that scenario, although likely to happen, will have to wait for now as Gilas can only field more than one naturalized cager in tilts not organized by the world cage body and depends on the host country–like the Southeast Asian Games and Asian Games.
“I suppose we would do that,” Cone said. “But that’s a year from now because we don’t have a non-FIBA tournament.
“I think, not even next year. I’m not sure,” he added.
Cone is convinced pairing the 6-foot-5 Brownlee and the 6-foot-10 Boatwright, a candidate for naturalization, will be a big boost for the Filipino cagers.
“It would be really interesting just like everybody dreamed about Justin and Jordan (Clarkson) playing together,” Cone said.
“Now, we get the next stream of Justin and Benny playing together and that they would fit like a glove I think between the two of them.”
Brownlee banners Cone’s squad for the Olympic qualifying tournament set from July 2 to 7 in Latvia along with reigning seven-time PBA MVP June Mar Fajardo, former winner Scottie Thompson, Kai Sotto, Chris Newsome, Calvin Oftana, CJ Perez, Dwight Ramos, AJ Edu, Carl Tamayo, and Kevin Quiambao along with alternates Japeth Aguilar and Mason Amos complete the Philippine five.
With 6-foot-7 forward Jamie Malonzo out for the OQT due to a recent calf injury operation, Cone is set to name either Aguilar or Amos as replacement.
The Philippine five, ranked 37th, must finish in the top two of its group that includes Georgia and Latvia to reach 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 duke it out for the lone slot in the Olympics set for July in the French capital.
Aside from the OQT, Gilas will resume its bid in the second window set for Nov. 21 and 24 after it completed a 2-0 sweep of the first round of the Asia Cup qualifiers last February.
