EASL EXPLAINS WHY BROWNLEE CAN'T PLAY AS SMB'S NATURALIZED PLAYER

JUSTIN Brownlee is eligible to play as a naturalized player in the East Asia Super League.

Unfortunately, San Miguel can’t tap his services in the manner Meralco did with Gilas Pilipinas’ fellow naturalized in Ange Kouame.

"Technically, if Justine Brownlee is not with Ginebra and not signed and playing with Ginebra this season, he is a viable option as he’s been one of the naturalized player in the Gilas or national team pool," said VP Business Development and Head of EASL Philippines Banjo Albano.

"Unfortunately, because he’s signed with a team competing in the same league in the same conference, that’s something that will not be allowed by FIBA."

EASL is sanctioned by FIBA, where it has a current 10-year partnership, and thereby applies all rules and regulations of the world’s basketball governing body.

Tapping naturalized players or an Asian heritage import has been adopted by the EASL ever since, something that Meralco and San Miguel has advocated in their previous campaigns.

"This rule has been with us for a while now. The B. League in Japan they have naturalized players and the other league uses the same rule as well," explained Albano, son of the former national team and Letran coach Larry Albano.

"This season Meralco decided to use that one roster spot for a naturalized player."

It so happened, the 6-foot-10 Kouame isn’t signed by any club teams following his stint with the Strong Group Athletics in the last Jones Cup in Chinese Taipei.

"Ange Kouame was available, and so they (Bolts) decided to go with him," Albano added.

The center out of Ateneo de Manila suited up for 17 minutes and contributed nine points and nine rebounds in Meralco’s 97-85 win over the visiting Macau Black Bears in the opener of the EASL 2024-25 season last Wednesday at the Mall of Asia Arena.

READ: Meralco Bolts open EASL campaign with blowout win over Macau

Albano however said Brownlee could play as naturalized player for Barangay Ginebra should the Kings qualify for the EASL, and play alongside two other imports.

2024-10-07T12:12:51Z