Gilas Pilipinas’ Justin Brownlee appears during a PBA Finals game. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines–Gilas Pilipinas’ naturalized ace Justin Brownlee is finally back home and he made one thing very clear in his first big interview with reporters on Friday night.
“I’m always ready for the fight,” Brownlee said with his signature big grin that endeared him to legions of Filipino fans as he responded to a question about reprising his role with the national basketball team.
Brownlee will be leading Gilas Pilipinas once again as the program turns a new leaf in its chapter under the seasoned Tim Cone in the Fiba Asia Cup Qualifiers this Feb. 22.
READ: Justin Brownlee makes case as Gilas’ best option in future
It will also be the first game for Brownlee after serving a three-month voluntary suspension following a flunked doping test in the Hangzhou Asian Games last October.
The soft-spoken forward was finally honored by the PBA for his Asian Games heroics during the halftime break of the San Miguel-Magnolia finals Game 4 clash at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
“Mentally, it was very tough just not knowing whatever the outcome may be [with] the situation that was going on. It was very stressful for sure. A lot of days and nights, you think about it, feeling sorry for myself. But at the end of the day, if you get knocked down or you get a setback, you just got to try to stay positive and move forward,” Brownlee said.
READ: Brownlee cleared to play for Gilas in time for Fiba Asia Cup qualifiers
“Physically, just trying to stay in the best shape. Not every day, but most days, working out. My ankle is feeling a whole lot better from four months ago. Right now, I feel good. I feel rested. I feel healthy,” he said.
Brownlee assured he will be in competitive shape once Gilas Pilipinas battles Hong Kong on the road about a couple weeks from now.
“I’d say about two weeks,” he said when asked about a timeline for his fitness.
“Like I’ve said, I’ve been pretty much working out most days and since I’ve been back in the Philippines, I’ve been trying to mostly work on my conditioning and things like that,” Brownlee said.
“Just been trying to do whatever I can at least on conditioning. I couldn’t really get on the court with a trainer or the team, so I’m just really tryna focus on running and just trying to stay in good condition.”