Photo by Mark Giongco/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines—Clad in a blue jersey for a change, Justin Brownlee was all smiles as he met the media Monday night.
Brownlee, the resident Barangay Ginebra import, joined national team practice just as an extra body with the Gilas pool down to 14 men following Jayson Castro’s injury.
The prolific forward, though, hopes to get to wear the Philippines’ colors in a “real game.”
“Actually, a couple of people said, they messaged me, ‘Some nice color. I like the color.’ Hopefully, I can sport that in a real game,” said Brownlee, who sported a blue jersey with ‘Pilipinas’ printed on the front.
The 31-year-old Brownlee is one of the country’s candidates for naturalization but with the process for naturalization still pending, the prolific forward is just happy to give Gilas a hand in any way he can.
“Just helping the best way I can. Coach Tim invited me and it was an honor just to be invited in practice, being around all these talented guys playing in the PBA, playing against them and now practicing with them. It’s a special moment. It’s a lot of talent and I’m hoping they do really well in the SEA Games and get the gold medal,” he said.
“It was fun, just interacting with all the guys, help them learn because the system they’re using is pretty much similar to what we run in Ginebra. Any type of help I can do, I’m willing to do it.”
Brownlee is currently at the height of his powers and he hopes he will be given the chance to play for the Philippines in the near future.
“I hope soon, sooner than later. But I’m not sure right now, as far as the naturalization is going. It’s still pending from what I heard. But I’m hoping it’s passed very soon.”