At A Glance
- The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas confirmed that Brownlee is good to go for the continental tiff after getting clearance to play after a suspension scare following an adverse analytical finding in one of Gilas' games in the FIBA Asia Cup qualifier.
Gilas Pilipinas is set to ramp up its preparations for the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia with Justin Brownlee finally rejoining the team in its training earlier this week.
The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas confirmed that Brownlee is good to go for the continental tiff after getting clearance to play after a suspension scare following an adverse analytical finding in one of Gilas’ games in the FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers.
“Brownlee will be suiting up for Gilas Pilipinas in the FIBA Asia Cup 2025 after FIBA concluded that the presence of Carboxy-THC in Brownlee’s sample from November 21, 2024 does not constitute an anti-doping rule violation, considering the approved therapeutic use exemption,” the federation said in a statement.
On top of finally getting clearance from FIBA, Brownlee is also now fully healthy after recovering from a broken thumb which underwent surgery last April.
“He has fully recovered from the thumb injury he suffered during the PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals and has full range of motion already but is still in the process of getting back into game shape,” the SBP said.
Brownlee joined other Gilas players Dwight Ramos, Scottie Thompson, Jamie Malonzo, Chris Newsome, Carl Tamayo, AJ Edu, and Japeth Aguilar, alongside Troy Rosario and RJ Abarrientos in training while June Mar Fajardo, CJ Perez and Calvin Oftana won’t be joining until the end of the Philippine Cup finals.
Gilas is expected to have daily practices including a short training camp in Pampanga from July 25 to 27. The Nationals then play the Macau Black Bears at the Araneta Coliseum in a send-off exhibition game on July 28.
Gilas is scheduled to fly to Saudi Arabia on the 30th and is expected to play one more tuneup game against Jordan before the formal competition which will fire off on Aug. 5.