Justin Brownlee expressed aid following a turbulent stretch marred by harm restoration and a suspension scare as he’s now all cleared to swimsuit up for Gilas Pilipinas within the FIBA Asia Cup subsequent week.
Brownlee formally returned to nationwide staff obligation on Monday, powering the squad to a 103-98 comeback win over the Macau Black Bears in a friendly affair. The naturalized ahead dropped 32 factors on 5-of-7 from downtown and grabbed 15 rebounds, 5 assists, one steal, and one block.
His explosive outing marked his return in almost 5 months.
The resident import hurt his thumb throughout Sport 3 of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals in opposition to TNT final March however performed by it because the Gin Kings fell to eventual champions Tropang 5G.
Shortly after the sequence, Brownlee received an ‘adverse analytical finding’ in relation to a doping take a look at, his second after one other incident again in October 2023 following the Gilas’ historic title run within the Asian Video games.
Ultimately, the 37-year-old Brownlee was not given any kind of suspension and affirmed that he’s one hundred pc prepared, health-wise, to rejoin Gilas Pilipinas.
“It feels good, just a bit stiffness. I really feel one hundred pc wholesome,” Brownlee stated.
“It simply feels good to be again with the staff. I’m glad all the pieces labored out with the state of affairs. Yeah, it’s undoubtedly good to be again and shifting ahead, we’re actually centered.”
With Brownlee again, Gilas hopes to create one other historic second within the Asia Cup just like what they achieved within the Asian Video games, the place they ended a 61-year gold medal drought.
The final time the nationwide staff dominated the Asia Cup was in 1985 and the closest it received to a gold was a pair of silver medal finishes in 2013 and 2015.
Within the 2022 version, Gilas bowed to Japan within the playoffs with a dismal 102-81 loss that formally ended the nation’s podium hopes.
“Now, I believe we sort of have put Asia on discover so far as saying that we’re right here and we actually need to have the ability to compete,” Brownlee stated.
“The Philippines is rising and I believe, it’s received to a degree the place, like coach Tim stated earlier, we wish to have the ability to dominate Asian basketball. I believe with the staff we now have.I believe that’s very potential to do.”
—JKC, GMA Built-in Information
