PHNOM PENH, Cambodia — Southeast Asian Games standouts Justin Brownlee, Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser and Christian Standhardinger are not expected to see action when Gilas Pilipinas competes in the FIBA Basketball World Cup.
Brownlee, the beloved Barangay Ginebra San Miguel import, is not expected to be part of the team as his slot as naturalized player will be taken over by National Basketball Association star Jordan Clarkson while Ganuelas-Rosser and Standhardinger will be out due to eligibility issues.
In the recent SEA Games here, Brownlee, Ganuelas-Rosser and Standhardinger played their hearts out, helping Gilas Pilipinas reclaim the glory and bounce back from their sorry setback to Indonesia in the Hanoi edition of the meet last year.
Brownlee, for one, played like a man on a mission as he carried Gilas Pilipinas in their 80-69 victory over the Cambodians in their gold medal match.
“Man, I must admit that the six championships with Ginebra was great, but this is probably the greatest, winning a championship for the Philippines,” Brownlee, who battled exhaustion, dehydration and a Cambodia side spiked with six naturalized players, said.
“It’s a culmination of my deep love for the country that has truly embraced me as its own.”
Meanwhile, Ganuelas-Rosser and Standhardinger will be left out of the team as they failed to secure their respective passports before turning 16 years old.
Ganuelas-Rosser, for one, has a different situation with his brother, Matt, who also played as a local player for the country in previous international events.
“My situation was different as Matt was born in the Philippines and I was born in the States,” Ganuelas-Rosser, who was able to compete in the SEA Games due to its relaxed eligibility rules, said.
“But I’m happy that there’s still a way where I can represent the national team through the SEA Games.”
