BROWNLEE, NILALABAN NI CONE PARA SA NAT’L TEAM

MALAKAS na iniendorso ni Barangay Ginebra head coach Tim Cone ang kanyang import na si Justin Brownlee bilang potensiyal na naturalized player para sa the Philippine men’s basketball team noong Linggo.

Matapos na patingkarin ni Brownlee ang laro ng Ginebra mula sa come-from-behind 110-95 win laban sa Meralco sa PBA Commissioner’s Cup, tinapos ni Cone ang post-game press conference sa papuri sa versatile reinforcement. “Isn’t Justin amazing?” aniya hinggil sa import na may 27 points, 12 rebounds at 8 assists sa panalo.

“I tell ya, I know that Andray (Blatche) is a great player, and I know all those guys, I really don’t have any say in that. But I tell you my vote goes for Justin for the national team,” dagdag niya. “He can change a team, not just by his play, but by his personality. He’s an amazing player and human being, he really is. But that’s not my call.”

Ang panawagan niya para sa naturalization ni Brownlee ay higit niyang pinalakas dahil ang import ng Ginebra ang nanguna sa pagsungkit ng Commissioner’s Cup title noong 2018 at noong Agosto 2018 ay naisulong ang House bill upang maisagawa ang proseso.

Hindi naman tiyak si Brownlee sa progreso ng kanyang naturalization, lalo na at ang kanyang agent na si Sheryl Reyes ay yumao ng nakaraang buwan. Si Reyes kasi ang nakikipag-coordinate at in-charge sa career niya, ayon sa import. “Hopefully the process is still going forward and it’s not standing still or going backwards. I’m still excited for it. I’m just being patient, and whatever happens, happens,” ani Brownlee. (MC/ATD)