CHOT EXPECTS SLIGHT CHANGE IN BROWNLEE'S ROLE AT GILAS

Gilas Pilipinas coach Chot Reyes expects a slight change in the role of Justin Brownlee when the 34-year-old Barangay Ginebra import makes his much-awaited debut as naturalized player for the Philippine team.

As a PBA import, Brownlee is used to doing a lot for Ginebra, along with playing heavy minutes, but that is set to change when he plays for the national team.

"There will certainly be some differences but not much," Reyes said, in briefly sharing Brownlee's role as Gilas' naturalized player.

The Philippines will host Lebanon and Jordan on Feb. 24 and 27 respectively, in the sixth and final window in the 2023 Fiba World Cup Asian qualifiers at the Philippine Arena.

Brownlee, who recently led the Gin Kings to the 2022-23 Commissioner's Cup title, was back in practice for Gilas, which had its second straight Monday night training at the Meralco gym.

Ginebra stars Scottie Thompson, Japeth Aguilar and Jamie Malonzo, as well as Meralco's Raymond Almazan and Chris Newsome also showed up in the once a week practice.

Other PBA players from the pool who joined the national squad's preparation for the February window include San Miguel star center June Mar Fajardo and CJ Perez, NorthPort's Arvin Tolentino and TNT's sharpshooting guard Roger Pogoy.

Collegiate standouts Schonny Winston, Carl Tamayo, and Mason Amos also joined the weekly Monday session.

Reyes stressed that the inclusion of some college players in the 24-man pool is part of their thrust at having a "pipeline of young players."

"As for the young guys, we brought them in because we wanted to always have a pipeline of players not necessarily now, but for the future," he said.

Adamson guard Jerom Lastimosa, incoming UP payer Francis Lopez, and La Salle's young big man Kevin Quiambao are still playing for Strong Group in the 32nd Dubai Basketball International Championship.

Other members of the national pool currently playing outside the country, led by Kai Sotto, Ray Parks Jr., brothers Thirdy and Kiefer Ravena, Dwight Ramos and Jordan Heading are understandably not around.

2023-01-31T03:54:36Z dg43tfdfdgfd