(UPDATE) NATIONAL coach Tim Cone believes that naturalized player Justin Brownlee will "set a standard in the program" that will serve as his legacy long after he retires from active play.
Cone made this comment shortly after the 35-year-old Brownlee received a "Notice of Charge carrying a proposed three month Period of Ineligibility in relation to the anti-doping rule violation that occurred during the 19th Asian Games."
The former St. John's standout is expected to accept the notice of charge.
"More than the possible winning with his (Brownlee) presence in the lineup, he will represent the Philippines in a way that will make all his countrymen proud," said a beaming Cone, the concurrent coach for Barangay Ginebra and Gilas.
"He'll set a standard in the program that will live long beyond his playing for the team. That's the impact he will have on the team and the program."
Brownlee and Cone have gone a long, since the sweet-shooting naturalized player for the Philippines first played with Barangay Ginebra during the 2016 PBA Governors' Cup.
Since that first-ever stint that saw him cap it with a game-winning three-pointer en route to leading Ginebra to a 4-2 title romp over Meralco, and subsequently ending the franchise's eight-year championship drought, Brownlee has won a total of six PBA crowns as the Gin Kings' import.
The 6-foot-4 Brownlee took his championship touch in the international stage, after leading Gilas as its naturalized player to the 2023 Phnom Penh Southeast Asian Games men's basketball title once again, regaining the gold the team lost in the 2022 Hanoi Games.
More importantly, Brownlee led Gilas back to the Asian Games men's basketball throne last year as well, beating Jordan in the knockout championship game en route to winning the gold.
Gilas will have just a little over two weeks to train before seeing action in the first window of the FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers.
The Philippines takes on Hong Kong on February 22 at the Tsuen Wan Stadium, followed by Chinese Taipei on February 25 at the PhilSports Arena.
Brownlee will be heading the latest Gilas squad, along with Barangay Ginebra teammates Scottie Thompson and Jamie Malonzo, Meralco wingman Chris Newsome, TNT's Calvin Oftana, San Miguel Beer stars June Mar Fajardo and CJ Perez, along with Japan B.League Asian imports Dwight Ramos, Carl Tamayo, AJ Edu and Kai Sotto, along with UAAP star Kevin Quiambao.
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