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Justin Brownlee is still smiling even after the champion’s revelries have died down at the Philippine Arena in Bulacan.
But his face brightened even more when he gathered what was to come.
“Man, who got it, Lebanon and Jordan?” he checked with the Inquirer when asked about his upcoming assignment with Gilas Pilipinas, where, barring complications, he will be a naturalized player for the first time.
“We are playing here, right? wow This [game] a great warm-up for the fans!” he continued with a shake of his head as he dressed up in his team’s locker room.
Brownlee, the adored Barangay Ginebra import who on Monday pledged his allegiance to the Philippine flag, is promised more love as he is a member of the national squad that will play a two-game homestand. standing for the sixth and final window of the Fiba (International Basketball Federation) Asian World Cup qualifiers.
He expressed his happiness at the chance to represent the Philippines despite knowing that, in all probability, he will be left out of the final roster for the main event with Jordan Clarkson of the Utah Jazz in the National Basketball Association being a naturalized Gilas player.
“That’s what we love about him,” Gilas coach Chot Reyes said in an earlier interview about Brownlee. “He has no pretensions. He just loves playing for his country.”
Brownlee is the third naturalized player available for the Gilas program after Clarkson and Ange Kouame, Ateneo’s center in the UAAP who will have a medical procedure to correct a knee injury.
According to the undeterred Brownlee, the series against the visiting Bay Area Dragons should also be a big boost for the national home program that will host a vengeful Falcons crew and a red-hot Cedars side, with three Ginebra teams vying for a spot on February’s team. .
“For the upcoming February window, I think this [championship series] it’s good for men. We have played international players [so we really] can take this experience,” he said.
“Scottie [Thompson]Japheth [Aguilar]Jamie [Malonzo]ourselves-we can take this experience into [those games] and [farther] on the international stage as well.
The Philippines, who recorded a 5-3 record in the qualifying series they did not have to win, but which the cage leaders are using to prepare for the August global showcase, will face Lebanon on February 24, followed by Jordan a day later.
Dressed next to his son Justin Jr., the elder Brownlee knew his first few moments in Gilas blue-red-white would be emotional.
And this early, he has tried to prepare.
“Playing for Gilas will be very special. I will try not to cry,” he said. “But I have been waiting for this moment. Just want to go out and you know, just want to make the fans happy? Filipino fans, they are the best in the world. I want to go out there and play hard and give that ‘NSD’ (don’t say die) attitude like I play for Ginebra.
“Hopefully, I can make the Philippines prouder,” added Brownlee. INQ
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