Good news arrived on Saturday morning as the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas announced that Justin Brownlee will be available to suit up for Gilas Pilipinas in the first window of the FIBA Asia Cup 2025 Qualifiers this February.
FIBA, basketball’s world governing body, handed the naturalized Filipino just a Notice of Charge carrying three months of ineligibility concerning the anti-doping rule violation during the 19th Asian Games, where he led the Philippines to its first gold medal in 61 years.
The three-month period was retroactive to the date that FIBA got the notice from ITA which happened to be a month later since Gilas won the gold on October 6, 2023. With it, Brownlee’s suspension was served from November 9, 2023, to February 9, 2024.
But that retroactive serving of suspension was able to happen thanks to the cooperation of Barangay Ginebra, Brownlee’s home in the Philippine Basketball Association.
SBP Executive Director Erika Dy said on Saturday that the 35-year-old import could have played for Ginebra in the ongoing PBA Commissioner’s Cup. Still, the San Miguel Corporation-owned team opted to be careful with his situation and instead used Tony Bishop as their reinforcement.
“Malaking bagay. Ginebra could have used him this conference because he wasn’t suspended yet,” said Dy on the cooperation of the PBA team during the second-ever Manila Hustle 3×3 presented by SMART.
“We sat down with the Ginebra management and we thought that it was best not knowing kung gaano katagal yung suspension na makukuha na i-sit out niya na para whatever sentence we get ay magta-tuck in na, magre-retroactive yung months na he sat out,” added the amiable executive.
The national team will start its campaign in the qualifiers on the 22nd against Hong Kong at the Tsuen Wan Stadium.
They will then go home to face Chinese Taipei at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City.
Gilas is expecting Brownlee to arrive in the Philippines this month.
He will be joining Ginebra teammates Scottie Thompson and Jamie Malonzo in the newly-formed Nationals squad along with Kevin Quiambao, Carl Tamayo, Dwight Ramos, Kai Sotto, AJ Edu, Chris Newsome, Calvin Oftana, CJ Perez, and June Mar Fajardo. Tim Cone will coach them.
