After three months, Justin Brownlee is ready to serve Gilas Pilipinas again, this time in the FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers.
Scottie Thompson didn’t hide his excitement as he teams up with Gilas Pilipinas naturalized Filipino Justin Brownlee again.
Months after guiding Gilas to the Asian Games gold, the Ginebra teammates will don the blue-and-white jerseys anew when the first window of the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers unfurls on Thursday.
“Iba 'yung feeling,” Thompson said during the press conference at the Philsports Arena on Monday. “Syempre masaya kaming nakabalik na si Justin. Excited na kami lahat makita si Justin.”
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CJ Perez echoed the same sentiment.
“Sobrang saya namin nakabalik si Justin. Malaking bagay sya sa Gilas program,” the newly-minted PBA Best Player of the Conference said.
“Malaki nai-contribute niya nung nakaraang Asian Games, hopefully magdire-diretso.”
Perez was of course referring to Brownlee’s heroics in their Asian Games conquest where he carried the team on his shoulders and overcame the home team China in the semifinals.
The team went on to win the gold medal against Rondae Hollis-Jefferson’s Jordan.
Unfortunately, Brownlee had to take three-month sabbatical after failing the doping test during the Asiad. When he got back, though, it’s as if he didn’t miss a beat.
“Makikita mong di sya nagpapabaya sa sarili nya. Talagang totally fit sya pag dating nya,” Thompson added.
With him back at full strength, Brownlee is expected to take the same major role when Gilas tackles Hong Kong and Chinese Taipei on February 22 and 25, respectively.
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