MANILA, Philippines — Gilas Pilipinas coach Tim Cone has ruled out Bennie Boatwright for the coming Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan in September.
The American mentor said the sharpshooting Boatwright is already struck out of the list as the former San Miguel Beer reinforcement won’t be able to get his naturalization papers in time for the Asiad.
“Bennie is out, he won’t be able to play in either tournament,” Cone said in the Power and Play sports program of former PBA commissioner Noli Eala last Saturday.
Cone also noted that Boatwright’s availability remains in doubt for the coming FIBA World Cup 2027 Asian Qualifiers second round where the Philippines is set to host Jordan and Iran last this August.
“There’s a slight possibility he could play in window, the FIBA tournament with Iran and Jordan,” he said. “The Asian Games is obviously the tournament in Japan but Bennie won’t be available because his papers didn’t come on time.” “Japan has stricken him in the list. But there’s a slight possibility he can make it for window,” he stressed.
Nonetheless, the multi-titled PBA champion coach reiterated that long-time Gilas naturalized player Justin Brownlee will play for the national team, provided he’s healthy.
“We expect Justin to play on that,” Cone said, referring specifically to the Japan Asian Games. “Assuming he’s 100 percent. By that time, so basically, Justin for the (FIBA) window, and Justin for the Asian Games,” he added.
The 38-year-old Brownlee has been on the recovery phase since sustaining multiple injuries on his knee, leg and hamstring, which prevented him from seeing action against Australia in Perth in the third and final window of the Asian Qualifiers first round last July. Gilas lost to Australia, 92-49.
Brownlee managed to play for Gilas in its 106-102 overtime loss to New Zealand in Auckland, where he only scored five points, on just three field goal attempts, but had eight rebounds and four assists.
Cone will be handling two Gilas versions so to speak, one for the coming FIBA window and another for the Asian Games since regular members of the squad led by Dwight Ramos, Carl Tamayo, and Kevin Quiambao, who are playing in pro leagues in Japan and Korea have commitments to their respective squads.
The Philippines will be defending the Asian Games men’s basketball crown it won in 2023 in Hangzhou, China.
The Asian Games men’s cage gold was the country’s first championship since the country last won it in the 1962 edition in Jakarta.
