Blood pressure, heart issues put Brownlee out of Gilas commission for Asian Games -- Cone

MANILA, Philippines -- Health concerns dashed Justin Brownlee out of the 2026 Asian Games, Gilas Pilipinas head coach Tim Cone said. 

Brownlee, who was the hero of the gold medal run of Gilas in the 2023 Asian Games, did not suit up for the Philippines in this year’s title defense. 

Cone, during a Senate Sports committee hearing on Thursday, said that Brownlee’s health situation ultimately kept him out of action from the national team. 

“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,” Cone, who also coaches the Gin Kings in the PBA, said. 

“It is why he hasn't played this conference, because he's had health concerns regarding blood pressure, heart issues. So he is not able to play at this point.” 

Without Brownlee, Gilas fielded an all-PBA squad in the Asiad. 

The team was made up 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. 

This was the worst finish of the country in men’s basketball in the Asian Games.

Cone said that they are “incredibly disappointed” with their performance. 

“There's always been a belief I think for us in the basketball world that playing internationally is really very, very difficult. And you're never going to be successful unless you bring your best collection of players. And that's not always available to us. We don't always have control of it,” he said. 

He stressed that they could not tap the Gilas players playing in Korea and Japan because the Asiad is not a FIBA-sanctioned tournament. 

“So they are no longer forced to release those players. So that's why we couldn't bring the same core. We actually wanted to bring the same core. What was interesting is that Japan allowed their players to play in the Asian Games and Korea allowed their Korean players to represent their country and play in the Asian Games. But they would not allow our Filipino players playing abroad to represent the country in the Asian Games,” he said. 

Moving forward, though, Gilas may already have Bennie Boatwright in tow for the national team in time for the November window of the FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers.

“We don't quite have his passport yet, but we are working on his passport. But yes, the naturalization process is finished. He is currently playing in China. And so we just need him to finish off the requirements,” Cone said. 

Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas executive director Erika Dy, for her part, said that they have already coordinated with the embassy and consulate in China.