GILAS Pilipinas naturalized star Justin Brownlee does not expect to be at his old, deadly form–at least in the first window of the FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers.
But the scary part? The do-it-all Ginebra import in the PBA is convinced he can regain his bearing.
“I don’t expect to play at my best,” Brownlee said. “But I think in due time, I can get back to that level.”
The FIBA issued Brownlee a Notice of Charge carrying a proposed three (3) month period of Ineligibility about his anti-doping rule violation during the Hangzhou Asian Games last October.
A few days after the 6-foot-5 Brownlee powered the Filipino cagers’ drive to end the country’s long and agonizing 61-year title dry spell in the Asiad, the International Testing Agency announced that he tested positive for a prohibited substance.
The beloved Brownlee opted to serve a provisional suspension period which started last Nov. 9, making himself unavailable for the Kings’ title-retention bid in the season-opening tourney.
Brownlee, 35, is now relishing a fresh start in his cage career.
“Being able to be back in the country and being around the basketball atmosphere, I just think it was great,” Brownlee said.
“It was a huge relief. Definitely ready to put the suspension past me and just looking forward to moving forward.”
The three-month hiatus also did wonders for Brownlee in his recovery from knee surgery.
“Just coming from that surgery before the Asian Games, these last few months, it definitely gave me a lot of time to heal,” Brownlee said.
“I’m a little older now so whenever I can get some rest– unfortunately it came in a way it did– but whenever I can get some rest, I take it.”
Brownlee will link up with former MVP Scottie Thompson, CJ Perez, Jamie Malonzo, Chris Newsome, Calvin Oftana, Dwight Ramos, Carl Tamayo, Kai Sotto, Kevin Quiambao, and Japeth Aguilar in the opening round of the qualifiers.
Reigning seven-time MVP June Mar Fajardo will miss the first window due to a calf injury he suffered during San Miguel Beer’s six-game title conquest of the season-opening tilt against Magnolia, while AJ Edu is also recovering from a torn meniscus injury.
Without Fajardo and Edu, Gilas Aguilar will beef up the team.
Brownlee maintained he still has what it takes.
“I am a little bit older, but I still think I got a lot left in the tank,” he said.
