(UPDATE) A HEALTHY and sharp Justin Brownlee will lead the way as Gilas Pilipinas ramps up its preparations for the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament, which is slated from July 3 to 7 in Riga, Latvia.

The 36-year-old Brownlee spent the past two months whipping himself into game shape after playing for Pelita Jaya as one of its foreign reinforcements in the Indonesian Basketball League, as well as the Basketball Champions League Asia.

The do-it-all Brownlee underwent arthroscopic surgery to have bone spurs removed from his foot, just months before the Asian Games in Hangzhou, China in 2023.

After nearly two months of inactivity, Brownlee was reactivated and played a major role in leading Gilas Pilipinas to the Asian Games men's basketball gold in Hangzhou, China in September 2023.

The Asian Games basketball hold marked the end of the country's long title drought or since the Philippines last won the cage crown in 1962.

"Justin is well and healthy," Gilas team manager Richard del Rosario told The Manila Times in a brief description of the 6-foot-4 Brownlee's condition, having seen the Gilas naturalized player work with the rest of the national squad in its three-day training camp at the Inspire Sports Academy in Calamba, Laguna.

Brownlee averaged 13.9 points, 8.9 rebounds and over four assists in the IBL, teaming up with another former PBA import KJ McDaniels for Pelita Jaya.

Beyond the numbers, Brownlee's grit and deep understanding of Gilas coach Tim Cone's system will be critical as the Philippines now looks to punch in an Olympic ticket this July.

The Philippines' last Olympic stint happened in the 1972 edition in Munich, Germany.

The hard work continues with Gilas kicking off the first of its three tune-up games on Monday when the national squad plays the Taiwan Mustangs of coach Chris Gavina at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig.

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