SOURCES SAY JUSTIN BROWNLEE TO PLAY FOR MERALCO BEFORE GILAS RUN

JUSTIN Brownlee will still play one more game for Meralco in the EASL Home and Away Season 3.

SPIN.ph sources said the Gilas Pilipinas naturalized player will be available for the Feb. 11 game against the Ryukyu Golden Kings as the national team won’t resume its campaign in the second window of the FIBA World Cup Asian qualifiers until Feb. 26 yet at the Mall of Asia Arena against Australia.

READ: Gilas problem solved as Boatwright lands in KBL after Taiwan exit

Brownlee is scheduled to arrive in the country end of January, while Gilas Pilipinas tentatively begins its preparations for the second window of the qualifiers shortly after the Philippine Cup Finals.

"Under his contract, he still has one game to play for Meralco," said the source privy to the agreement between the Bolts and the 37-year-old Brownlee.

The three-time PBA Best Import of Barangay Ginebra already suited up for the Bolts last Dec. 6 when they beat the Macau Black Bears, 93-91, at the Capital Arena in Ilagan, Isabela.

Brownlee finished with a double-double of 12 points and 10 rebounds in his first ever team-up with rival Rondae Hollis-Jefferson.

Unfortunately, Hollis-Jefferson suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon and is out for a year.

Meralco is now out on the look for a replacement for Hollis-Jefferson who will partner with Brownlee, import Ismael Romero, and Asian import Sina Vahedi.

The game against Ryukyu is a significant one for Meralco in its bid to make the EASL playoffs for the very first time.

The Bolts carry a 3-2 record for third place in Group B just behind Ryukyu (2-1) and group leader Taoyuan Pilots (4-1).

Macau Black Bears are at the bottom with a 0-5 slate. - Gerry Ramos

Cabiltes now a Titan deputy, but staying on at EAC

JERSON Cabiltes will stay as Emilio Aguinaldo College's head coach following overtures from a PBA team which wanted him to handle the team.

The mentor, known for his no-nonsense approach to the job, decided to continue with his work at EAC, apparently satisfied that the school has given him free reign to continue and develop its basketball program.

"Gusto ko pa rin mag-stay kasi maganda yung ginagawa namin sa EAC," he told SPIN.ph.

The Generals struggled last season, going 4-9 in the eliminations before losing to Jose Rizal University in the play-in.

Cabiltes has been linked to Titan Ultra, with the PBA team reportedly eyeing him as its next head coach.

Accepting that, however, would force him to give up his EAC job as the pro league requires exclusivity for its coaches.

But it does not appy to being an assistant coach in the PBA, which Cabiltes opted for by accepting an assistant's job with the Giant Risers which was impressed with his NCAA performance.

Aside from his NCAA work, Cabiltes also steered the Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards to the MPBL title in 2022 and made contenders out of other MPBL teams such as the Basilan Steel, and just recently, the Pangasinan Heatwaves.

He also is a consultant for his alma mater Hope Christian High School. - RL

2026-01-19T12:15:07Z