Justin Brownlee projects only better things to come now that Gilas Pilipinas Men is set to get the ball rolling in its long-term plan under Tim Cone.
The naturalized winger is part of the core eyed to be kept intact for the next four years as the newly-appointed coach aims to bring continuity to the program.
“I think in the next three or four years, Philippine basketball is on the rise even more,” he told reporters in a quick presser during Game 4 of the PBA Season 48 Commissioner’s Cup Finals, Friday at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
Recently cleared by FIBA from his doping case in the 19th Asian Games, Brownlee banners a 12-man pool built by Cone for the opening window of the FIBA Asia Cup 2025 Qualifiers happening on February 21-26.
The roster is understandably made up mostly of players who helped bring the country its first Asiad men’s basketball gold medal in over 60 years.
PBA MVPs June Mar Fajardo and Scottie Thompson are there, together with the other league stars in Chris Newsome, Calvin Oftana, and CJ Perez.
Jamie Malonzo is also on the roster with Kevin Quiambao, along with Japan B.League imports Kai Sotto, Dwight Ramos, Carl Tamayo, and AJ Edu.
(c) POC-PSC Media Group
“The team that’s been put together is a very dynamic team,” offered Brownlee of the small yet loaded national team pool. “They’re young, athletic, energetic. And, [these are] some of the best players from the Philippines.”
‘JB’ recently returned to the country and could watch Fajardo and Perez in Game 4 of the title series, which the Hotshots eventually won by way of a 96-85 result to tie the best-of-7 affair at two games apiece.
Sooner, he’ll be buckling down to work with both men in preparation for the Asia Cup Qualifiers’ first window. There, they will take on Hong Kong on the road on the 22nd and then Chinese Taipei on the 25th at Philsports Arena.
Brownlee is, of course, excited to go back to work with his brothers, and is as optimistic as well of what the future holds for Gilas.
For now, though, his focus mainly is to get back into game shape, for he was away for a few months due to that anti-doping violation.
“I’ve just been trying to do whatever I can,” he said.
