Brownlee Brownlee back for Gilas Pilipinas.

Brownlee is back for Gilas

June 20, 2024 Robert Andaya 364 views

FORMER PBA Best Import awardee Justin Brownlee is expected to rejoin Gilas Pilipinas during its three-day, closed-door training camp at the Inspire Sports Academy this weekend.

Brownlee, who returned to the country only last Monday, will join the Tim Cone- coached Gilas Pilipinas in Laguna from Friday to Sunday as it kicks off its preparations for the qualifying tournament for the coming Olympic Games in Paris.

The 36-year-old Brownlee is fresh from his stint as import with Indonesian club Pelita Jaya in the Basketball Champions League Asia held in Dubai recently..

The arrival of the 6-6 Barangay Ginebra resident import is expected to boost Gilas Pilipinas, which will miss the services of injured players AJ Edu (knee) and Jamie Malonzo (calf).

Joining Brownlee in Laguna are seven-time PBA MVP June Mar Fajardo, CJ Perez, Chris Newsome, Scottie Thompson, Calvin Oftana, Dwight Ramos, Kevin Quiambao, Carl Tamayo and Kai Sotto.

Reserves are Japeth Aguilar and Mason Amos.

After the camp, Gilas Pilipinas will play a tune-up game against the Taiwan Mustangs on Monday at the Philsports Arena in Pasig as part of the sendoff prepared by the Samahang Basketball ng Pilipinas (SBP).

The match is set at 6 pm and will be aired live on One Sports, One Sports+, and Pilipinas Live.

The following day, the Filipinos leave for Europe for a friendly against the national teams of Turkey and Poland before proceeding to Latvia for the qualifiers.

The Philippines is bracketed with Georgia and Latvia in the OQT scheduled July 2-7 in Latvia.

Meanwhile, the Gilas Pilipinas boys are ready and confident going into the FIBA U-17 Basketball World Cup on June 29-July 7 in Istanbul, Turkey.

“It’s a very daunting task on the world stage. But we prepared for this so we can deliver a performance worthy of the Philippine flag,” said head coach Josh Reyes in last Tuesday’s Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Forum at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex.

Reyes was referring to Lithuania for their opening game, then Spain and then Puerto Rico, certified heavyweights in the basketball world.

“Lithuania is competing for the podium and Spain will try to win it all. They are a European powerhouse. For sure, in this team are future NBA players,” added Reyes, son of long-time Gilas coach Chot Reyes.

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