The Justin Brownlee who struck fear into the heart of the opposition during the 19th Asian Games is expected to show up to lift Gilas Pilipinas in the first window of the FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers next week.
Gilas head coach Tim Cone said Brownlee looked fit and deadly in their first day of training despite staying away from basketball for three months to serve a voluntary suspension after testing positive for a banned substance in the aftermath of the continental meet in Hangzhou last October.
During the Asian Games, Brownlee played like a man possessed.
In fact, in their semifinal game against China, the Filipinos trailed by as many as 20 points in the first half before Brownlee took over, single-handedly carrying the fight until they were able to trim the gap to five in the final stretch.
Then, he delivered back-to-back three-pointers to seal the victory that gave the Filipinos their first Asian Games gold medal since the Jakarta Asiad in 1962.
Brownlee finished with 33 points, five rebounds and four assists while being showered with adulation by basketball-loving Filipinos back home.
He, however, eventually tested positive for a substance linked to the use of cannabis, prompting him to sit out while serving a three-month provisional suspension.
Cone said that during their first day of training at the Inspire Sports Academy in Laguna last Thursday, the 35-year-old Brownlee showed up with the same intensity, the same energy and the same fitness that he showed during their historic — and memorable — run in the bustling Chinese city of Hangzhou.
“He’s in good shape,” said Cone, who knows Brownlee like the back of his hand after coaching him at Barangay Ginebra in the Philippine Basketball Association since 2016.
“He didn’t gain weight since his off-time so that was important.”
But preparing for the Asia Cup and the Olympic qualifiers will not be a cakewalk for Brownlee.
Cone admitted that their naturalized player has to make some key adjustments as he will be playing with some stars outside the PBA like Kai Sotto, Dwight Ramos, Carl Tamayo, AJ Edu and Kevin Quiambao.
Although his Ginebra teammates like Scottie Thompson, Jamie Malonzo and Japeth Aguilar as well as other PBA standouts in Chris Newsome, June Mar Fajardo, CJ Perez and Calvin Oftana are also part of the 12-man Gilas roster, Brownlee still has to adjust while recovering his timing and rhythm.
“It’s more of recovering his timing and getting used to his teammates,” Cone said in a message to Daily Tribune on Friday morning.
Brownlee will display his condition when Gilas Pilipinas holds an open workout on Monday at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City.
They will face Hong Kong at the Tsuen Wan Stadium on Thursday before colliding with Chinese Taipei on Monday at the Philsports Arena.
