Gilas Highlights: Ginebra legend Justin Brownlee over NBA certified scorer Jordan Clarkson?

Gilas Pilipinas entered this qualifying window for the 2023 FIBA World Cup with a lot of injuries. So, a lot of fans are in awe as they witnessed the Justin Brownlee-led squad deliver an 11 points victory over the national team of Lebanon. 

Leading our national team was Justin Brownlee with his 17 points, 4 rebounds, 5 assists and 2 steals performance. With the beautiful basketball that they witnessed, fans and even respected analysts are now concluding that Brownlee is the better choice as the naturalized player for our national team this 2023 FIBA World Cup!

Before I give my take, let me just say that the dream scenario is still for Jordan Clarkson to be allowed as a local player. 

But if we ended up choosing between the two, I will choose Jordan Clarkson right away without hesitation. Brownlee is truly an awesome team player. Even the coach of Lebanon agreed that under Brownlee, Gilas played unselfish basketball. And under Jordan Clarkson last year, they played isolation ball.

Of course, it is much easier to fall in-love with good team basketball than isolation ball. But, people are forgetting that Clarkson only have less-than-a-week preparation last year. This is the reason why the coaching staff simplified the system.

For the FIBA World Cup this year, we expect Clarkson to come earlier and be acclimated with his team. Yes, the ball-movement will not be as much as the ball-movement under Justin. But remember, basketball is not all about ball-movement and chemistry.

And what makes the clamor for Brownlee funnier is the fact that the fans of Ginebra, SMB, and TNT who want it are enjoying their favorite team in the PBA, choosing talent over chemistry to win championship! Ginebra just won a crown after they added Malonzo during the break from the Philippine Cup. TNT won one championship after they trade for Mikey Williams. And San Miguel traded their legends to get younger legs who are playing better and they won a title!

I am pretty sure that the fans and analysts will sustain the campaign for Brownlee as our naturalize player in the upcoming World Cup. And if the coaching staff and Gilas management will fall for it and choose him over an NBA player who is currently averaging 21.1 points, 4,1 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 45% FG. That is even a bigger mistake than replacing coach Tab Baldwin with coach Chot Reyes.

P.S.

Justin Brownlee is no doubt an excellent plan B for our naturalized player position. He deserves to represent our national team. But not over Clarkson.