The Philippines first saw Justin Brownlee play in 2016, when his late agent Sheryl Reyes finally convinced Barangay Ginebra San Miguel to take a chance on him as a replacement import in the Governors’ Cup.
Brownlee has since amassed six championships, three Best Import of the Conference awards, and nationwide adulation as one of the best imports in the PBA ever.
Since 2016, the following FIBA Asia Cup 2025 will be the third edition of the Asian Championships. In 2017 with Christian Standhardinger taking the naturalized player spot, the Philippines made it to the quarterfinals but bowed out to South Korea.
In 2022, a young Gilas team did not have a naturalized player and limped to a ninth place finish, winning only one game.
[Related: How Gilas Pilipinas have fared in the FIBA Asia Cup from 2011 to 2022]
Now at 37 years old, Brownlee is set to play his first FIBA Asia Cup in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia and we could only wonder what could have been if his naturalization came much earlier for us. It really makes you think, because in his first year with Gilas Brownlee delivered a gold medal from the SEA Games, and another gold medal from the Asian Games.
“It feels good always to be able to represent the Philippines and come to these FIBA tournaments. They're always well put together,” Brownlee said.
“It's always a fun format. If you're a hooper and you love the game of basketball, these tournaments are always fun to be a part of. Playing different people, different teams, different countries.”
Gilas Pilipinas are in Group D of the tournament along with New Zealand, Chinese Taipei, and Iraq.
The top team will be headed straight into the quarterfinals while the second and third place teams will have to win an extra game to get there.
[Related: Gilas Pilipinas lock in final 12 with Justin Brownlee, Dwight Ramos for FIBA Asia Cup 2025]
“I think we've got good chances of coming out of our group. Of course, we want to get to the number one spot, but we do have some tough teams ahead of us to get to that spot but I like our chances,” Brownlee stated.
“We've been working extremely hard in practice. Our training camp went really well. We had a couple of tune-up games. I like the way we're going. I think me, just like everybody else on the team and the coaching staff, is pretty confident.”
In their short time here in Jeddah, the Filipino fans have shown Brownlee and the rest of Gilas a lot of love.
According to the longtime Ginebra import, the feeling never gets old but he might not fully comprehend his value, especially to the kids that he meets.
“It’s the best day of my life,” one fan said after getting a photo taken with Brownlee.
“Wherever we go, we always feel at home,” Brownlee added. Home, according to the Georgia native, is now the Philippines.
Brownlee’s effect is not just felt by the Filipino kids that got to meet him after their practices. It is also palpable to the younger teammates he has now with Gilas.
“Some guys are maybe 10 plus years younger than I am and it feels good that they see me as a leader. I just want to help as much as I can,” he explained.
“These young guys, they've got a bright future, a ton of potential on and off the court. I just try to help the best way I can.”
Brownlee does this everyday. His presence, his commitment, his demeanor. Things that set a great example for the youngsters such as AJ Edu, Kevin Quiambao, and Carl Tamayo.
He does this in games as well. When Brownlee is wearing a Gilas jersey, you just feel you have a chance to win and this kind of confidence is important to the younger players.
When they believe they can be at the top and are willing to put in the work to get there, the result will take care of itself.
Brownlee knows that the games behind him are a lot more than the games ahead but with age comes knowledge; the ability to listen to his body when it needs to rest.
“I think it was 12, 13, 14 months straight. That was probably the longest time I ever played straight without a good amount of break. I love the game of basketball, so I'm going to just keep going,” Brownlee said.
However, after the PBA Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup Finals against TNT, Brownlee had no other choice but to shut it down.
He dislocated his thumb mid series, an injury that he played through. Although it would not be enough to win a title in Game 7, it added to the legend of Brownlee.
Now that he’s healed up and as fresh as ever, he’s ready to take Gilas to new heights.
“There's a lot of great teams in Asia, but we feel like the way basketball is growing in the Philippines, we can compete and even beat some of the teams here,” he said.
“We just want to keep that confidence and always focus on getting better and playing with that Pinoy pride that we always come out to play with,” Brownlee added.
Until when will he keep doing this?
Well, the answer has always been simple for JB.
“Until the wheels fall off.”