Health woes ground JB

MANILA, Philippines — Health concerns – not an injury – kept Justin Brownlee out of Gilas Pilipinas’ failed title defense at the 20th Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan.

Gilas head coach Tim Cone bared the situation of the naturalized star during a hearing of the Senate Committee on Sports chaired by Sen. Bong Go yesterday, called to assess Team Philippines’ performance in the Asiad.

Brownlee, 38, was the hero of Gilas’ gold medal run in the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou. This year, he did not suit up at all.

“He’s had some…it’s not injury concerns, he’s had health concerns. That’s why he’s not playing for Ginebra at this time,” said Cone, who also coaches Brownlee at Barangay Ginebra.

“It is why he hasn’t played this conference, because he’s had health concerns regarding blood pressure, heart issues.”

It was the same reason he missed the August window of the 2027 FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers after playing in the July window.

Cone said there is no timetable yet for his return to Ginebra or Gilas.

Without Brownlee, Gilas was forced to field an all-PBA lineup in Aichi-Nagoya composed of Robert Bolick, Sedrick Barefield, Adrian Nocum, Jerrick Ahanmisi, RJ Abarrientos, Don Trollano, Justine Baltazar, Justin Arana, Zav Lucero, Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser, Calvin Oftana and Brandon Bates.

The Philippines finished ninth in the 12-team field.

Meanwhile, Rain or Shine and Barangay Ginebra get back to work today in the PBA Governors’ Cup at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

The Elasto Painters (4-2) and Gin Kings (2-4) meet in the 7:30 p.m.

Rain or Shine was the hottest team in Group B before the tournament pause, winning four straight: Phoenix, 105-98, Ginebra, 110-99, Magnolia, 98-97, and Meralco, 85-83.

Ginebra went the other way, losing its last two – Magnolia, 88-73, and Meralco, 97-88 – to fall to the bottom of the group.

In the other game, Blackwater (4-4) tries to hold onto the fourth and final quarterfinal spot in Group B against Magnolia (4-3), which is riding a three-game winning streak.

Blackwater won the first meeting, 89-81, on July 18, but Magnolia has since beaten Ginebra, Meralco and Phoenix.