Brownlee: I'm always ready for big fight

Source: The Manila times

MANILA, Philippines: Naturalized Filipino cager Justin Brownlee made a Philippine public appearance for the first time since coming back to the country last Tuesday from the United States, where he stayed after leading Gilas Pilipinas to the Hangzhou Asian Games gold medal last October.

The three-time PBA best import could not help but appreciate the love he'd gotten from the fans as he watched Game Four of the San Miguel-Magnolia Commissioner's Cup Finals at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Friday, February 9.

"It feels good. I've been waiting for this moment for the past few months and I'm happy to come back and to be greeted with so much love, it's just good to be back in the Philippines all around. I've really been waiting for this moment for a while," said Brownlee.

For leading the Philippines to its first Asiad basketball title in 61 years, Brownlee, before the third frame of the San Miguel-Magnolia tiff, was presented with a symbolic basketball at midcourt by PBA commissioner Willie Marcial, SMC sports director Al Francis Chua, San Miguel governor Robert Non, and Games and Amusement Board chairman Atty. Richard Clarin.

Brownlee served a provisional suspension after he tested positive for Carboxy-THC, a prohibited substance by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) that is linked to cannabis use. The suspension commenced on November 9 and ended on Friday, coinciding with the Magnolia-San Miguel Game Four Finals clash.

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The suspension is the same reason why he could not suit up as import for Barangay Ginebra in the Commissioner's Cup where his team bowed to San Miguel in the semifinals.

Despite having not played in competitive games and in practices, Brownlee said that he did all he could to stay in condition.

"Just been trying to do whatever I can, at least on conditioning. I couldn't really get on the court with a trainer or the team, so I'm just really trying to focus on running and just trying to stay in condition. Right now, I feel good, I feel rested. I feel healthy."

The pressure is on Brownlee to ramp up his conditioning as he is set to lead the 12-man Gilas team assembled by coach Tim Cone for the FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers on Feb. 22 against Hong Kong and against Taiwan on Feb. 25 at the Philsports Arena.

"Of course, I'm always ready for the big fight. I won't put pressure on the team and myself but one thing I can promise is we're going to try our hardest everytime we go out there and we're definitely going to do our best," said Brownlee.