Brownlee makes Phl Team return

After a long break, Justin Brownlee is set to return to practice this week for Gilas Pilipinas.

Gilas head coach Tim Cone said the Barangay Ginebra resident import is already in the country and will be available to go when they call him.

“He’s already here. So, he will be here but it will be for our open gym time,” Cone said during the Adidas jersey unveiling yesterday in Makati City.

“He’s fine.”

Brownlee dislocated his thumb last March when the Kings went up against TNT Tropang Giga in Game 3 of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Commissioner’s Cup finals.

With that, the 37-year-old forward went back to the United States to heal and recover.

While Brownlee wasn’t able to play during his recovery, Cone sees his extended break as a blessing since he has been playing for both Ginebra and Gilas before he got injured.

“It’s just a matter of him getting back into shape but like I said, the break will help Justin in the long run. He has yet to take a break in almost two years so he needed to have his body rested,” Cone said.

“I’m expecting him to come back stronger.”

Brownlee’s return to Gilas boosted their chances in the Asia Cup as he averaged 21.7 points and 7.3 rebounds in six games in the qualifiers.

Dwight Ramos said he couldn’t wait to share the floor with Brownlee again.

“Justin plays some of the best basketball I have ever seen. He makes the right calls and he’s a big-time player with big-time shots,” Ramos said.