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| Justin Brownlee could finally make his Meralco debut on Saturday night in Ilagan. Peter Baltazar (file photo) |
MANILA--Barring yet another hiccup, Justin Brownlee could finally make his first game with the team that he has kept on tormenting for years.
The EASL confirmed on Tuesday that Brownlee is set to join Meralco for its second-round meeting against Macau on Saturday night.
Brownlee, who has been breaking the Bolts' hearts as Barangay Ginebra's resident import in the PBA, will finally be part of Meralco's EASL squad after he missed the entire first round, reportedly because of pneumonia.
Brownlee became available after he was denied from joining Gilas Pilipinas for the Southeast Asian Games men's 5x5 basketball event following a ban imposed by host country Thailand on players categorized as "naturalized" by FIBA.
Brownlee will take over the naturalized player spot to be vacated by Ange Kouame, who will fly to Bangkok as part of Gilas' men's 3x3 team.
With Brownlee joining, the PBA fans' dream of seeing him and Rondae Hollis-Jefferson on the same team is set to come true.
Both swingmen are with the Bolts on loan from the Gin Kings and TNT Tropang 5G, respectively.
While officially designated as a road game for them, Meralco will play Macau at The Capital Arena in Ilagan, the site of the Bolts' first home stand against the Taoyuan Pilots.
Meralco whipped Macau in their first meeting on Nov. 15 at the Cebu City Coliseum, a special game where all the ticket sales were donated to the relief efforts after the earthquake and typhoon that hit the entire Cebu province.
The Black Bears decided to have the home leg of their season series against the Bolts at The Capital Arena since they will also join the Ilagan leg of the TAT Winter Classic at the said venue next week.
