It’s now official: Justin “Noypi” Brownlee is a Filipino.
The beloved Barangay Ginebra import finally obtained Philippine citizenship as the bill was signed by President Bongbong Marcos on Thursday, which will allow the three-time Best Import to represent Gilas Pilipinas in major international competitions starting the sixth and final window of the FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers.
The sixth window of the World Cup Asian Qualifiers will be held at the Philippine Arena late next month.
Brownlee will be the third naturalized player lined up to play for Gilas.
Jordan Clarkson, a star player seeing action for the Utah Jazz in the National Basketball Association, is set to play for the national squad when the World Cup in August and has previously represented the national team in the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta and the fourth window of the Asian Qualifier.
Another naturalized player who is also with Gilas is Ange Kouame, a member of Ateneo’s multiple champion teams in the Universities Athletic Association of the Philippines, who played for Gilas the past two years.
