SBP plans to field Justin Brownlee in next FIBA window

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) is targeting current Barangay Ginebra import Justin Brownlee to be a part of the Gilas Pilipinas men’s national basketball team that will compete in the next window of the FIBA Asian qualifiers.

Already attending national team practices since the start of October, the super import was already one of the top choices of the SBP and the Gilas coaching staff as their naturalized player.

Brownlee will start his naturalization process today after SBP executive director Sonny Barrios announced the development during another session of the Philippine Sportswriters Association forum.

Barrios shared that Brownlee will be appearing in front of the Committee of Justice headed by Rep. Juliet Marie de Leon Ferrer of Negros Occidental.

The SBP already expressed its intention of tapping the services of Brownlee after naturalized big man Ange Kouame got hurt several months ago.

Despite playing during the most recent window where Gilas swept Jordan and Saudi Arabia, the SBP is still firm with their decision of including Brownlee in the February window.

Brownlee already established his name in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) as one of the greatest imports of all time after steering Ginebra to five championship titles.

Since helping the Gin Kings win the 2016 PBA Governor’s Cup, the coaching staff headed by chief tactician Tim Cone stuck with Brownlee and has consistently been their import until now.

The crafty small forward also won the PBA Best Import of the Conference award twice during 2018 and the 2021 Governor’s Cup.

Aside from Brownlee, the SBP is also considering TNT Tropang Giga’s import Cameron Oliver to be their next naturalized player.

If Brownlee and Oliver manage to complete their naturalization, this will be the first time that Gilas will be bringing in a forward instead of a center.

The past two Gilas eras saw Marcus Douthit and Andray Blatche don the blue and white jersey and led the country to its glory days in the FIBA Asia scene.