GILAS Pilipinas may be preparing to enter the crucial fourth window of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 Asian Qualifiers without Justin Brownlee, but national team coach Tim Cone is not completely shutting the door on the naturalized star’s return.
Brownlee has been ruled out of the Philippines’ upcoming games against Jordan on August 28 and Iran on August 30 at the SM Mall of Asia Arena after informing the Gilas coaching staff that he is not yet healthy enough to play.
But Cone said Brownlee could still find his way back into the lineup should the Barangay Ginebra import make a dramatic recovery before the upcoming window or even in time for the Asian Games.
“If by some miracle Justin deems himself fit before we play the window or the Asian Games, we will insert him into the lineup,” Cone told Abante Bilyonaryo Group’s Homer Sayson.
The veteran coach stressed that Brownlee’s familiarity with the system makes him the easiest player to reintegrate into the national team, even without an extended preparation period.
“He is the ultimate plug-and-play player,” Cone added.
Should Brownlee receive clearance to return, however, Cone said Gilas would have to carefully manage his workload.
“We’d just have to limit his minutes, so the door is open,” he said.
Brownlee missed the previous window’s game against Australia and has continued dealing with health and injury concerns, including ankle and hamstring issues that have kept him from joining the current Gilas buildup.
Without its longtime naturalized player, the Philippines is set to field an all-Filipino lineup led by Dwight Ramos, Kevin Quiambao, Carl Tamayo and AJ Edu as it tries to revive its World Cup qualification campaign.
Gilas enters the second round carrying a 2-4 record and four straight losses, making the upcoming home stand against Jordan and Iran critical to its hopes of reaching the 2027 FIBA World Cup.
But while Brownlee will not be available for now, Cone made it clear that Gilas remains ready to welcome him back at any moment.
For Brownlee, the question is no longer whether there is a spot waiting for him, it is simply whether his body will be ready in time. (By The Staff)
