Brownlee cleared to play

MANILA, Philippines — Naturalized player Justin Brownlee brims with excitement as he finally takes his Gilas Pilipinas jersey out of the closet and picks up a basketball again.

Brownlee, who has been in the freezer since the conclusion of Gilas’ golden feat in the Hangzhou Asian Games last October due to anti-doping rule violation, received the good news yesterday.

“I can’t wait to play basketball again and put all of this behind me,” Brownlee said on the heels of FIBA giving him clearance to play again after over three months of inactivity.

“It’s always been an honor to represent the Philippines and I’m happy to be given the chance again,” he added.

According to the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas, the FIBA issued Brownlee a “Notice of Charge carrying a proposed three-month Period of Ineligibility” in relation to his doping case during the Asiad.

Brownlee opted to serve a “provisional suspension period,” which commenced on Nov. 9, 2023, and sat it out as Ginebra tried but failed to defend the PBA Season 48 Commissioner’s Cup crown.

“Brownlee not playing a game since the gold-medal winning effort against Jordan hastened his return to the national team along with the fact that the banned substance he used was taken out-of-competition and unrelated to performance enhancement,” the SBP said.

SBP president Al Panlilio and coach Tim Cone led the basketball community and fans in welcoming back Brownlee, whose first foray out of suspension will happen in the first window of the FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers on Feb. 22 against host Hong Kong and Feb. 25 versus Chinese Taipei at home.

“We’re elated that the consequences FIBA issued does not prevent Justin Brownlee from playing for Gilas in the upcoming window,” said Panlilio.