MANILA, Philippines — Gilas Pilipinas will be forced to play all-Filipino versus Australia as naturalized player Justin Brownlee is out due to hamstring strain and leg and knee injury, the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas announced on Sunday night at its Facebook page.
“Justin Brownlee will miss the game against Australia due to hamstring strain and peroneal tendinopathy on his right leg and left knee swelling and cartilage defects,” the SBP posted.
Brownlee is coming off a grueling PBA Season 50 Commissioner’s Cup Finals series, where he led Ginebra to the championship against TNT.
The 38-year-old Brownlee proceeded to training with Gilas shortly after the PBA Finals, and flew with the national squad to Australia for the three-day training camp.
Brownlee did not play in Gilas’ two-game friendlies versus New Zealand’s professional squads to preserve his legs and body.
Against the Tall Blacks though last Friday in the window 3 of the FIBA World Cup 2027 Asian Qualifiers, Brownlee struggled mightily, finishing with just five points on three field goal attempts.
The four-time PBA Best Import managed to contribute eight rebounds and four assists, but had three turnovers in Gilas’ tough 106-102 double overtime loss.
