JUSTIN Brownlee is expected to be back in the country next week.
That’s the declaration from Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) executive director Erika Dy following the naturalized player’s clearance from Fiba.
“We’re trying to bring him home this week,” she said, stating that Brownlee’s retroactive suspension will expire by Feb. 9.
Brownlee: 'I can’t wait to play basketball again, put all these behind me'
It’s exactly the news the federation needs as Gilas Pilipinas prepares for the first window of the 2025 Fiba Asia Cup qualifiers, where the Philippines will play Hong Kong on Feb. 22 and Chinese Taipei on Feb. 25 at PhilSports Arena in Pasig.
“Masayang-masaya kami syempre. We were really hoping that he could join us during the window and it turns out that he can and saktong sakto sa window natin,” said Dy.
The amiable executive also bared that Brownlee had a big hand in shortening his penalty.
After the International Testing Agency announced that he tested positive for the banned substance Carboxy-THC following Gilas’ gold-medal victory over Jordan in the Hangzhou Asian Games, it was the resident Ginebra import who opted to no longer suit up for the Gin Kings in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup.
“He also voluntarily suspended himself. It’s more of Justin agreeing na without a sentence to step back first. It was a sacrifice on his part,” said Dy.
“Obviously Ginebra could have used him this conference because he wasn’t suspended yet. But we sat down with Ginebra management and we thought it was best, not knowing yung length ng suspension na makukuha, na i-sit out na niya para whatever sentence we get, magta-tap in na yung retroactive application yung months that he sat out.”
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