Brownlee ready to serve flag and country—even if only as Jordan Clarkson Plan B
Justin Brownlee all the time provides it his all throughout nationwide group practices. —PBA IMAGES
All of the spotlight clips being unfold round that showcase the depth of Justin Brownlee’s talent set—his capacity to complete on the rim, his contact from the perimeter, his knack for creating performs and organising teammates—don’t present the issues that nationwide coach Chot Reyes is most impressed about.
“He has by no means missed apply, and he provides it his all each time,” Reyes advised the Inquirer Tuesday night on the eve of Brownlee’s look earlier than a Home panel to mild the wick of his naturalization course of.
“And the benefit of JB is that he’s keen to be the backup. He advised me he can be prepared if JC (Jordan Clarkson) turns into unavailable—that’s a giant factor,” Reyes added.
“He has no assumptions that he would be the high man.”
Assistant coach Jong Uichico agreed.
“He’s such a group particular person,” stated Uichico. “He places the wants of the group, and of this system, forward of his personal.”
Brownlee isn’t any stranger to basketball love. As a two-time finest import who has helped fan-favorite Barangay Ginebra to a number of championships, the all-around wingman has performed in entrance of adoring crowds.
Now, Brownlee in entrance of a mammoth, united crowd carrying the nationwide colours gained’t be that a lot of a stretch anymore.
The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) continued to select up steam in its bid to naturalize the Barangay Ginebra import, with Brownlee scheduled to look earlier than a Home panel on Wednesday to formally kick off the method to grant him Filipino citizenship.
“Justin is scheduled to look within the listening to donning a brand new ‘Barong’ Tagalog. I’m unsure what number of strains of Lupang Hinirang he can now sing, however I requested him to skip sleep and simply carry on training,” SBP government director Sonny Barrios revealed in the course of the Philippine Sportswriters Affiliation discussion board earlier on Tuesday.
“That’s the preliminary [step]. He wants to satisfy the Committee personally. As soon as accepted, the bid goes as much as the Senate. It will likely be a course of,” Barrios went on.
Three readings
Brownlee can be accompanied by Gilas group supervisor Butch Antonio and authorized guide lawyer Aga Francisco.
Brownlee’s naturalization will definitely shore up the pool of reinforcements obtainable for the nationwide program. At present, the one standouts obtainable for the naturalized participant spot within the nationwide roster are Utah Jazz star Clarkson, who can be unavailable in the course of the NBA season, and Ateneo heart Ange Kouame.
Brownlee’s bid is about to undergo three readings within the Home. After that, the invoice strikes as much as the Senate the place it undergoes the identical legislative course of earlier than lastly being transmitted to the Workplace of the President for signing into regulation.
A couple of extra ceremonies and paperwork after the arduous course of will lastly permit Brownlee, a diligent attendee of Gilas’ weekly coaching periods at Meralco Health club, to formally backstop Gilas Pilipinas in worldwide occasions.
Barring any hitches, Brownlee may make his nationwide group debut within the sixth window of the Fiba (Worldwide Basketball Federation) World Cup Asian qualifiers in February subsequent 12 months, the place the Filipinos are going to play Lebanon and Jordan.
Brownlee may have the viewers of a lifetime if that stint materializes because the SBP is working to have each video games performed on the cavernous Philippine Area in Bulacan province, in accordance with Barrios.
“Should you look again, the February window was held in Araneta [Coliseum in Quezon City], the Aug. 29 of the fourth window was at Mall of Asia Area [in Pasay City] and now this sixth window at Philippine Area as a result of these are the three websites for the World Cup,” Barrios stated.
The huge web site, which seats 55,000 folks, is the venue for the ultimate part of World Cup. INQ
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