Daily TribuneThe Philippine Basketball Association, where Brownlee is the resident import for Barangay Ginebra, is tight-lipped as well with Commissioner Willie Marcial saying they will wait for a directive from the SBP before making a move.
Naturalized player Justin Brownlee found himself in trouble when he tested positive for a banned substance in the aftermath of the country’s participation in the FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers last February.
The issue was shrouded in secrecy.
Save for a two-paragraph statement on social media that confirmed its receipt of the adverse finding notice from the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) refused to give further information.
Instead, it said that Brownlee’s US-based lawyers were handling the matter, suggesting that they were in the process of making an appeal to somehow reduce the impact of the looming sanction.
The Philippine Basketball Association (PBA), where Brownlee is the resident import for Barangay Ginebra, is tight-lipped as well with Commissioner Willie Marcial saying they will wait for a directive from the SBP before making a move.
It’s not the first time the 36-year-old Brownlee was involved in a drug-related case.
Two years ago, Brownlee tested positive for Carboxy-THC, a compound indicative of cannabis use, shortly after he led Gilas Pilipinas to the gold medal in the Asian Games in Hangzhou, China.
Brownlee, however, was able to convince WADA that the banned substance was from the medication he used to treat his injured foot. In the end, he was only slapped a three-month ban and was eventually able to return to action for the Kings and the national squad.
Well, we understand where the SBP and the PBA are coming from by their deafening silence.
Brownlee is a national treasure. He led Barangay Ginebra — the country’s most popular ball club — to six PBA titles, giving him the right to sit at the same table with the likes of Norman Black, Bobby Parks and Sean Chambers.
With his hard work, determination and tremendous hunger to win, Brownlee became a crowd darling, a status that reached its peak when he single-handedly led Barangay Ginebra to a dramatic best-of-seven finals victory over the visiting Bay Area Dragons in the Philippine Cup of 2023. More than 54,000 fans trooped to the Philippine Arena for Game 7 to witness how Brownlee single-handedly slew the mighty Dragons from Hong Kong.
For Ginebra fans, Brownlee isn’t just a journeyman out to collect his paycheck and call it a day. He is their hero, a mythical character with supernatural strength who is ready to do whatever it takes to save them from the fangs of an embarrassing defeat.
That’s why it was a no-brainer when the SBP nominated him for the tedious process of naturalization. There were many prospects for naturalization, some even of National Basketball Association caliber, but nobody won the hearts of Filipino basketball fans more than Brownlee.
Aside from his can-do-it-all attitude inside the court, his humility, gentleness and quiet demeanor make him perfect to represent the country in the international arena.
The SBP’s gamble on Brownlee paid a handsome reward. With Brownlee at the helm, the Filipinos pulled off a dramatic overtime win over China in the semifinals before beating Jordan in the final to clinch their first ever gold medal in the Asian Games in over six decades.
Truly, there’s no doubt that Brownlee is special. He is God’s greatest gift to Philippine basketball.
But we can’t let ourselves get carried away. Whatever narrative we formulate about Brownlee’s greatness, the fact remains that he tested positive for a banned substance — not once, but twice.
And what’s more painful is the stigma that goes along with this heartbreaking development, similar to what happened to Chinese swimmer Sun Yang and powerhouse cyclist Lance Armsrong when critics branded them as “cheaters.”
We don’t want that to happen to Brownlee. For us, Brownlee is a hero, a mythical character who can save us from even life’s biggest challenges.
We’re not saying the SBP should do crisis management, but it has to at least do something more than a two-paragraph statement on social media that raises more questions than answers. The federation should explain what happened and how Brownlee — our hero — can overcome what could be a career-ending setback.
Yes, Brownlee is no saint. But for someone who has played his heart out for basketball-loving Filipinos, he deserves to be defended, especially by his own federation.
