Six-time Philippine Basketball Association champion and Gilas Pilipinas naturalized player Justin Brownlee won’t be able to join the national team aspirants in China as he is scheduled to undergo surgery to remove bone spurs on his foot this week.
Gilas team manager Butch Antonio confirmed it to Daily Tribune.
“He has a scheduled surgery this week,” wrote Antonio in a Viber message.
This means Gilas will play all-Filipino when they take on the national teams of Lebanon, Senegal and Iran in a series of tune up matches from 2 to 6 August in Guangdong.
The national team had already loaned Ange Kouame, its other naturalized player to Rain or Shine, which will represent the PBA in the coming William Jones Cup tournament on 12 August while National Basketball Association star Jordan Clarkson will start meeting the squad on 6 August, but will not play in the tune up matches.
Gilas will leave on Tuesday, 1 August for the final stretch of their international training, but will return to Manila, hoping to find tune up matches against teams which will arrive early for the coming FIBA World Cup slated 25 August to 10 September.
