By REYNALD MAGALLON
As much as anticipated Justin Brownlee’s return to the hard court, the Gilas Pilipinas naturalized player was quick to temper expectations in his first game back since the Nationals gold medal conquest in the Asian Games.
The Ginebra resident import, who was hailed a hero after his contributions to Gilas’ Asian Games success, is set to banner the Nationals’ in the pair of games first against Hong Kong in Feb. 22 and then against Chinese Taipei on Feb. 25 in the first window of the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers.
Admittedly still far from his tip-top shape, especially coming off a three-month layoff, Brownlee shared that he might need some time to shake off the cobwebs and do the things that people used to see him do on the court.
“I don’t expect to play at my best. But I think in due time, I can get back to that level,” said Brownlee who hopes to begin a new chapter in his storied career now that he’s back in harness for Gilas Pilipinas.
“Being able to be back in the country and being around the basketball atmosphere, I just think it was great. It was a huge relief. Definitely ready to put the suspension past me and just looking forward to moving forward,” he added.
Brownlee served a three-month provisional suspension after getting flagged for banned substances during the Asian Games. And while the lull was stressful for him, it actually came as a blessing in disguise as he had a chance to rest and heal his body.
It can be recalled that the 35-year-old forward was coming off a surgery to remove bone spurs on his foot just before the continental showpiece.
“Just coming from that surgery before the Asian Games, these last few months, it definitely gave me a lot of time to heal,” said Brownlee.
“These last few months, it definitely gave me a lot of time to heal. I’m a little older now so whenever I can get some rest, unfortunately it came in a way it did, but whenever I can get some rest, I take it,” he added.
Brownlee also vowed to be back in his best shape for Gilas, especially now that he has been part of the pillars of the national team program expected to run for the next four years.
“I am a little bit older, but I still think I got a lot left in the tank,” he added.
