By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña
Newly naturalized kababayan Justin Brownlee is ready for his biggest test aside from his PBA duties with the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel.
Today marks Brownlee’s first-ever game wearing the Gilas Pilipinas men’s national basketball team uniform in the final window of the 2023 FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers.
Gilas will be setting up a rematch against nemesis squad Lebanon later at 6 in the evening and is expected to bounce back in front of their Filipino fans live at the Philippine Arena.
The national team is yet to pick up a win against Lebanon after absorbing tough back-to-back losses during the FIBA Asia Cup and the FIBA World Cup qualifiers.
With Brownlee now available to play as a full-fledged Filipino, the Gilas coaching staff is optimistic that the national team is on the right path months before the main draw of the FIBA World Cup kicks off.
Although derailed with injuries heading into the sixth window of the global hoops games, Gilas will try to navigate more options with Brownlee manning the offensive department.
The Ginebra mainstay import has become the ultimate barometer for all foreign reinforcements in the PBA, proof is his five championship titles with the Gin Kings and a couple of Best Import of the Conference awards.
Also yet to comeback for the national team is former NBA Sixth Man of the Year Jordan Clarkson who was present with Gilas during last year’s World Cup Asian Qualifiers.
Despite Clarkson’s offensive eruption, it was still Lebanon who got away with the 85-81 thrilling win led by no other than Wael Arakji who was tagged as the “Lebanese Ginobili”.
Gilas will look to begin its final window campaign on a high note with a victory against Lebanon tonight before taking on Jordan on February 27, 2023.
