By REYNALD MAGALLON
Justin Brownlee is set to take his act to the Indonesian Basketball League to keep himself busy and in shape before the Gilas Pilipinas Olympic Qualifying Tournament campaign in Riga, Latvia in July.
The Gilas Pilipinas naturalized player and Barangay Ginebra resident import confirmed the development and actually already signed with a yet to be revealed Indonesian team.
The move should bode well for Brownlee who was coming off a long layoff following the Nationals’ Asian Games conquest and was left without a league to play in following his brief return to basketball during the first window of the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup first qualifying window.
Brownlee cannot play for Barangay Ginebra at this point with the PBA currently holding the 2024 Philippine Cup. The league will not play import-laced tournaments until the second conference of next season, which is likely around November.
Gilas coach Tim Cone, who is also Brownlee’s coach in the PBA, is all for the 35-year-old’s stint in other parts of Southeast Asia.
“We’re happy for him. This gives him some extra income and helps him stay sharp and in shape,” said Cone in a text message.
He also added that Brownlee is expected to be back in the country in late June for Gilas’ campaign and with Ginebra for the Commissioner’s Cup.
