Gilas Pilipinas’ Justin Brownlee. (Photo by Luis Veniegra / SOPA Images/Sipa USA)
MANILA, Philippines–Justin Brownlee’s availability for Gilas Pilipinas for the opening window of the Fiba Asia Cup qualifiers is expected to be made official in the coming days, the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas said on Tuesday.
“We were told that it could come in anytime this week,” SBP executive director Erika Dy told reporters on Tuesday, shortly after gracing the season-opening presser for women’s 3×3 showcase Manila Hustle.
“We’re hoping that he gets the lowest level of suspension, which is a three-month period,” she added of the official penalty that will be handed by the International Basketball Federation.
READ: Tim Cone on Justin Brownlee’s failed doping test: ‘It kind of blows our mind’
Brownlee, one of the national basketball program’s naturalized players, flunked a doping test shortly after leading the Gilas Pilipinas to the Asian Games gold medal back in October. He has since opted out of a return stint with his PBA mother club Barangay Ginebra and avoided the public eye to avoid risking heavier sanctions.
According to Dy, Brownlee has gone through a provisional or voluntary suspension. Applied retroactively, the naturalized ace should be cleared when the new edition of Gilas Pilipinas buckles down to work.
“That three-month period would end on Feb. 8. So that’s just in time for the first window,” she said.
READ: Brownlee fails doping test, but POC says Gilas’ Asian Games gold stays
The Philippines opens its new era under Tim Cone against Hong Kong on Feb. 22 in a Fiba Asia Cup Qualifying match that will officially take the lid off a four-year cycle.
Brownlee is among the players in a 12-man squad geared towards the World Cup in Qatar and the Summer Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
Cone, in a chat with reporters on Monday night, said that he is optimistic his old reliable will be back in harness when the National Five plunges into action.
“We’re confident that Justin will be there. It’s not a lock but we’re confident that he’ll be there. And if necessary, we’ll adjust,” he said.