If plans don't miscarry, old rivals Justin Brownlee and Rondae Hollis-Jefferson could be headed for an early collision in the men's basketball event of the 19th Asian Games that will open in Hangzhou exactly two weeks from now.

This after Gilas Pilipinas ended up in the same bracket with Jordan, the team where Hollis-Jefferson played for in the ongoing FIBA Basketball World Cup.

Aside from Jordan, the Philippines is bracketed in Group C together with Thailand and Bahrain, which is bannered by another former Philippine Basketball Association import in Wayne Chism.

Although Hollis-Jefferson's team had lost all of its five matches, he had emerged as one of the top performers in the biggest basketball spectacle in the world.

In five games while playing as Jordan's naturalized player, the former TNT Tropang Giga import averaged 23.6 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 4.4 assists per game, making him one of the most consistent performers in the tournament.

Hollis-Jefferson's performance might also be a strong warning to their rivals as he is set to march into the Asian Games in tip-top condition.

Meanwhile, Brownlee, who bannered Barangay Ginebra during its dramatic Governors' Cup finals encounter with Hollis-Jefferson and the Tropang Giga, is still in the process of recovery after undergoing an operation to remove bone spurs on his foot before Gilas Pilipinas' World Cup campaign.

Brownlee had been having second thoughts on whether to go through operation or not as the pain was still manageable yet recurring. But when National Basketball Association star Jordan Clarkson became available and committed to Gilas in the World Cup, Brownlee decided to go through that process, although it would take a few more days for him to play.

But whether he will be fit enough to reinforce Gilas remains to be seen and we won't be surprised if Brownlee will not be in full strength in the Asian Games.

This puts Hollis-Jefferson at a bigger advantage in their matchup. Bronwlee's presence, however, serves as a guiding light to the Filipinos representing the country in the quadrennial meet.

As a team, it's time for the local players to be the ones carrying Brownlee while he is still catching up and playing his way back to tip-top shape.

He may be able to recover on time, but how fit and ready he will be remains a big question.

Still, the much-anticipated showdown between Bronwlee and Hollis-Jefferson will be renewed and fans could only get excited even if they see the Gilas naturalized player assuming the role of a facilitator or providing a morale boost.

We can afford to have a 70 to 80-percent fit Brownlee and let the rest of Gilas cover up for him.

Let's just hope that Ange Kouame — Gilas' other naturalized player — can compete together with other players who played in either the FIBA World Cup or the 32nd Southeast Asian Games.

The rematch between Brownlee and Hollis-Jefferson is still something to look forward to.