MANILA — Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings’ resident import Justin Brownlee will lead Gilas Pilipinas’ redemption tour in the 2023 Southeast Asian Games men’s indoor basketball in Cambodia.
According to Philippine Olympic Committee president Abraham Tolentino, the newly-naturalized cager will surely be part of the national men’s basketball team in a bid to reclaim the biennial games’ men’s basketball gold.
“There is no surprise, babawiin natin ang gold medal natin sa 5×5 (indoor basketball),” Tolentino said. “Mabibigat ‘yung mga makakalaban natin doon kaya for sure nandoon si Brownlee.”
Tolentino added that his office will also help the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) in scouting the roster to be paraded by other squads and if they will also have naturalized players.
“Titignan natin kung sino ‘yung ina-accredit ng Cambodia sa basketball,” the POC official said. “Baka surpresahin na naman tayo sa Cambodia at ng ibang teams. Baka may ex-NBA.”
The Vincent “Chot” Reyes-mentored Gilas Pilipinas lost the gold medal in SEA Games men’s basketball in Vietnam after Indonesia, beefed up by former NBA player Marques Bolden, swept the tournament.
The 34-year-old Brownlee has officially become a Filipino citizen after President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. signed the Republic Act 11973 or the former’s naturalization measure last week.
Brownlee, after winning his sixth PBA title with the Gin Kings last Sunday, made an oath of allegiance to the Philippines before senator Francis Tolentino last Monday before he applies for a Philippine passport.
Before his SEA Games stint, Brownlee is expected to play for the national men’s basketball team in the final window of the 2023 FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers in February 2023 against Lebanon and Jordan at the Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan.
After the FIBA World Cup qualifiers window and the SEA Games, the SBP is also eyeing to tap the services of the long-time Gin Kings import in the Asian Games also later this year./PN
