Justin Brownlee joins Gilas vs New Zealand

Barangay Ginebra import Justin Brownlee will report for duty for Gilas Pilipinas in the Fiba Asia Cup Qualifiers. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

National coach Tim Cone reaffirmed that naturalized ace Justin Brownlee will be seeing action when Gilas Pilipinas plunges back into action in the Fiba Asia Cup Qualifiers later this month, a development that could impact who will enforce Barangay Ginebra in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup.

“Justin is our guy and will play against [New Zealand],” the seasoned mentor told the Inquirer in a short message on Monday afternoon, clarifying Brownlee’s status for the acid test against the Tall Blacks slated Nov. 21 at Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.

READ: Justin Brownlee ready for Gilas duties after PBA Finals loss

Cone’s statement comes on the heels of a report stating that Ange Kouame, the program’s other naturalized player, is in consideration for the two Fiba homestands.

Brownlee’s Gilas stint could influence the beloved import’s decision on whether or not he will suit up again for the Gin Kings in the midseason conference. Cone, after losing the Governors’ Cup Finals to TNT, had said that would all be up to Brownlee, who is contemplating on taking a break after a hectic schedule.

Brownlee spearheaded the Gilas charge in earlier windows this year, suited up for a pro club in Indonesia, led the Kings to a runner-up finish in the PBA before joining the national squad in preparation for the international games.

Preliminary list

FILE–Gilas Pilipinas’ Justin Brownlee during a game against Chinese Taipei in the Fiba Asia Cup qualifiers.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

Fiba rules stipulate that any country can tinker with its rosters ahead of each game on the condition that it could only tap players present in a preliminary list submitted to the cage body ahead of a qualifying window.

Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas executive director Erika Dy said in a separate chat that Kouame is indeed part of Gilas’ expanded pool of standouts for the tournament.

READ: Gilas’ Justin Brownlee savors first Fiba OQT experience

Kouame playing in Gilas’ match against Hong Kong on Nov. 24 should afford Brownlee some rest after that busy stretch.

Cone, however, added that “Ange’s participation in camp is yet to be confirmed.”

Gilas is scheduled to hold a short camp again at Inspire Sports Academy in Calamba, Laguna. Friendly matches against New Zealand and Hong Kong are also in the works.

Meanwhile, Meralco has chosen Panamanian standout Akil Mitchell as its reinforcement for Commissioner’s Cup that unfurls later this month.

The development was shared with the Inquirer on Monday morning by head coach Luigi Trillo. The team’s social media pages later made the announcement official.

A 6-foot-8 forward coming off a stint in China, Mitchell is set to backstop a Bolts crew that suffered an early exit in the playoffs last Governors’ Cup despite coming off a Philippine Cup championship run the season before.

The Commissioner’s Cup, which gets going on Nov. 27, has no height limit for imports.

Teams have taken advantage with Terrafirma set to field 7-foot Ryan Richards. NorthPort signed 6-11 Kavell Bigby-Williams while NLEX is reportedly going for 6-11 Ed Davis. Phoenix tapped 6-10 Donovan Smith while Converge said it is going with 6-8 Cheick Diallo.

Returnees George King and Ricardo Ratliffe will reinforce Blackwater and Magnolia, respectively. INQ