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| Justin Brownlee is ready to play for Gilas in February if he gets the call-up. Nikki Collantes (file photo) |
By Ivan Saldajeno
STA. ROSA, Laguna--With Gilas Pilipinas' backs now against the wall following two tough home losses in the fifth window of the FIBA World Cup Qualifiers, Coach Yeng Guiao thought about the possibility of having Ginebra's resident import Justin Brownlee as the Nationals' naturalized player for the now must-sweep sixth window on the road this February.
When Brownlee, who watched his former teammates at Alab Pilipinas play on Sunday night at the Sta. Rosa Multi-Purpose Sports Complex, found out about it from some reporters, he simply exclaimed, "Wow, man!"
He then said, "[He’s] a really great coach here in the Philippines, and I’m honored that he even mentioned me. If that opportunity ever happens, that would be incredibly great."
Last August, Brownlee, expressed his desire to undergo naturalization, and a group of congressmen led by Mikee Romero filed a bill to kick off the said process.
"I’m not sure exactly how it’s supposed to be, but from what I heard, it’s getting close," Brownlee said about how the naturalization is going so far.
Should he get the nod from both legislative chambers, Brownlee expressed his readiness to don the Gilas colors once Guiao calls him up to the training pool.
"If that opportunity comes, I would love to play, especially being able to represent for the Philippines and play for a coach like Yeng Guiao, who’s an incredible coach here in the Philippines, and some of the players as well in the PBA. It will be fun to team up with some of the guys," Brownlee concluded.
Follow him on Twitter: @IvanSaldajeno
When Brownlee, who watched his former teammates at Alab Pilipinas play on Sunday night at the Sta. Rosa Multi-Purpose Sports Complex, found out about it from some reporters, he simply exclaimed, "Wow, man!"
He then said, "[He’s] a really great coach here in the Philippines, and I’m honored that he even mentioned me. If that opportunity ever happens, that would be incredibly great."
Last August, Brownlee, expressed his desire to undergo naturalization, and a group of congressmen led by Mikee Romero filed a bill to kick off the said process.
"I’m not sure exactly how it’s supposed to be, but from what I heard, it’s getting close," Brownlee said about how the naturalization is going so far.
Should he get the nod from both legislative chambers, Brownlee expressed his readiness to don the Gilas colors once Guiao calls him up to the training pool.
"If that opportunity comes, I would love to play, especially being able to represent for the Philippines and play for a coach like Yeng Guiao, who’s an incredible coach here in the Philippines, and some of the players as well in the PBA. It will be fun to team up with some of the guys," Brownlee concluded.
Follow him on Twitter: @IvanSaldajeno
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