Justin Brownlee is set to return to basketball training in June ahead of the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup

Gilas Pilipinas’ management has received a major boost ahead of the upcoming 2025 FIBA Asia Cup, after it was reported that star player Justin Brownlee will return to basketball training in June.

Brownlee is currently recovering from a dislocated thumb, which he injured during the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Commissioner’s Cup Finals. Gilas head coach Tim Cone confirmed in a media interaction that he expects his star player to be 100 percent fit by the time the FIBA Asia Cup starts.

What helped the 37-year-old was the extra recovery time afforded by the ongoing PBA Philippine Cup, which is an All-Filipino tournament played without imports. This means Brownlee will be well-rested for the FIBA Asia Cup, scheduled from August 5 to 17 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Justin Brownlee is a man of the people 😄#PBAonESPN5 #PBALabanKungLaban #PBAGovsCup #2019GovsCupFinals pic.twitter.com/dGu7j3MQin

— One Sports (@OneSportsPHL) January 12, 2020

“We expect him to be ready in time for our preparation for the Asia Cup. I think it’s going to be great because he’s going to be off for a couple of months, and he’s a guy who always takes care of his body and is careful with his weight. I think he starts basketball activities around the first or middle of June,” Cone told reporters.

“I don’t worry about him coming back. I think this break is really good for him—mentally and physically. He’ll be ready for the Asia Cup,” he added.

It’s worth noting that Brownlee had a packed schedule before his injury. He played for Pelita Jaya in Indonesia, then for Barangay Ginebra San Miguel in the PBA, and also suited up for Gilas Pilipinas in international play.

Gilas faces a tough assignment in the FIBA Asia Cup, as they are in Group D alongside Chinese Taipei, New Zealand, and Iraq. They open their campaign against Chinese Taipei on August 6, followed by games against New Zealand (August 8) and Iraq (August 10).

Brownlee has established himself as arguably the top player in the Philippine men’s national basketball team, as evidenced by his standout performances in international tournaments. Since becoming a naturalized Filipino citizen on January 12, 2023, Brownlee has been a key figure in Gilas Pilipinas’ rise in the rankings. The 36-year-old played pivotal roles in their gold medal wins at the 2022 Asian Games and the 2023 Southeast Asian Games.

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