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Right after leading crowd-darling Kings to PBA crown, Brownlee declares readiness to suit up for a country that embraces him as its own


Justin Brownlee was still smiling even after the championship fun was over at the Philippine Arena in Bulacan.

But his face brightened even more as soon as he sorted out what was about to happen.

“My God, who do we have, Lebanon and Jordan?” he checked with the Inquirer when asked about his impending time with Gilas Pilipinas, which, without any complications, will serve as a player for the first time. naturalization.

“We’re playing here too, aren’t we? OH. This [game] is a good warm-up for the fans! he continued to shake his head while getting dressed inside the team locker room.

The beloved Barangay Ginebra importer Brownlee, who on Monday took the oath of allegiance to the Philippine flag, is expected to gain even more popularity as he is a substitute for the squad. The nation will see action in a home match representing the sixth and final window of the Fiba (International Basketball Federation) Asian World Cup qualifiers.

He expressed excitement at the opportunity to represent the Philippines despite knowing he will most likely be dropped from the final list for the main event alongside Jordan Clarkson of the Utah Jazz in the National Basketball Association to became a naturalized player of Gilas.

“That’s what we love about him,” Gilas coach Chot Reyes said in an earlier interview about Brownlee. “He made no pretense. He just loves playing for the country.

Brownlee is actually the third naturalized player available to the Gilas program after Clarkson and Ange Kouame, the Ateneo center in UAAP, who will have a medical procedure to correct a knee injury.

According to the tireless Brownlee, the series against the Bay Area Dragons will also be a big boost to the national cage show that will host a vengeful Falcons crew and a hot-headed Cedars faction, with three current Ginebra teammates out looming for positions on the February team.

“For the upcoming February windows, I think this [championship series] is great for boys. We played with international players [so we really] can take this experience,” he said.

“Scottie [Thompson]Japeth [Aguilar]Jamie [Malonzo]myself—we can include this experience [those games] and [farther] even at the international level.

Philippines, the team set a 5-3 record in the qualifying series that they didn’t need to win but a record the cage leaders are using to prepare for the global showcase in August, next to Lebanon in February 24, and then Jordan a few days later.

Dressed right next to son Justin Jr., eldest brother Brownlee knew that Gilas’ first moments in the blue-red-and-white suit would be emotional.

And this early, he’s trying to prepare for it.

“Playing for Gilas will be very special. I will try to keep my heart from crying,” he said. “But I have been waiting for this moment all this time. Just go out there and you know, just want to make the fans happy? Filipino fans, they are the best in the world. I’m going to go out there and play hard and have the same ‘NSD’ (never say die) attitude as I do for Ginebra.

“Hopefully I can make the Philippines even more proud,” Brownlee added. request

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