JUSTIN Brownlee will no longer play for Gilas Pilipinas in its pocket tournament in China next week.
Coach Chot Reyes said the move was made in order to let the prolific naturalized player to rest and heal himself as he currently deals with bone spurs on his foot.
At the same time, the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) already made official that NBA star Jordan Clarkson will be the one to reinforce the national team in its coming FIBA World Cup campaign and not Brownlee.
Instead, the Barangay Ginebra import will be donning the national colors for the Hangzhou Asian Games in September.
READ: With Clarkson in World Cup team, Justin Brownlee tapped to beef up Gilas in Asiad
Brownlee was not around when the national team practiced at the Meralco gym on Wednesday.
“Hopefully, he’ll be ready and available come the Asian Games,” said Gilas deputy Jong Uichico.
“He will not be a part of the (World Cup) team, but he wll be part of the pool of naturalized players.”
The SBP announced during its pep rally for both the men and women’s national teams about Clarkson finally coming over to play for Gilas in the World Cup, while Brownlee will be reinforcing the Filipinos in the Asiad.
The mini-pocket tournament in Guandong will be held from August 2 to 6.
Gilas leaves for China on August 1.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
