Sidelined by pneumonia and still on his way to full recovery, Justin Brownlee has returned to the country and left with a lot of catching up to do.
From getting himself in tip-top shape fast, to preparing for the coming FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers, playing in the Southeast Asian Games and in between, getting an opportunity to team up with long-time import rival Rondae Hollis-Jefferson where they can join forces to reinforce the Meralco Bolts in the EASL, Brownlee will have a lot on his plate.
On Thursday, Brownlee paid a courtesy visit to the Meralco office where he met Bolts team manager Paolo Trillo and PBA’s representative to the board Bill Pamintuan.
Brownlee was accompanied by Ginebra and Gilas assistant coach Richard del Rosario and the beloved Gin Kings reinforcement has expressed interest to play for Meralco’s next game in Ilagan City, Isabela.
For the record, Brownlee has signed a contract to play for Meralco in the EASL, but he has missed the team’s first four games due to health reasons, but now, ‘Justin Noypi’ has returned and raring to see action for the Bolts’ next game against the Macau Black Bears, who was defeated by the Philippines’ lone representative in the league this season during their previous game in Cebu.
But Trillo confirmed that although Brownlee is now back in harness and wants to play, the team will have to evaluate first because the Black Bears are reportedly bringing back 7-foot-6 center Sam Deguara, who saw action for the team last season.
Brownlee’s spot is temporarily being occupied by Ange Kouame, the 6-foot-11 center and the tallest player in the Bolts line up, whose qualification is the same with the former as the Philippines’ naturalized player. In the case of Meralco, the team is allowed to have four reinforcements, and only three can play at the same time.
Aside from Hollis-Jefferson, resident import of TNT, and Kouame, other imports who are in the Bolts line up are Sina Vahedi of Iran, now regarded as the best point guard in Asia, who serves as the team’s Asian import, while Ismael Romero plays as the Bolts’ regular import.
Still, Brownlee’s presence is hard to pass up and Meralco knows it has to utilize the six-time PBA champion anytime soon since he is already under contract with the squad — add to that the impact of the tandem he brings with Hollis-Jefferson once the two rivals become allies.
