DID Justin Brownlee EVER consider quitting? HOW DID JB face with his problem?

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Justin Brownlee during Gilas Pilipinas practice in Pasig City on September 14, 2023, as part of their preparations for the upcoming Asian Games. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News/File.

MANILA — The first kit that Justin Brownlee will don after his short break from basketball is also the one that he wore before he sat out — a Gilas Pilipinas jersey.

Before this, the resident Barangay Ginebra San Miguel import was out of basketball for three months as he served his suspension after a failed ITA drug test, which is why his return to the hard court and the Philippines in general brings him relief.

“It was a huge relief,” said the multiple-time PBA champion during the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas’ press conference on Monday.

Brownlee was talking about him only needing to serve the least amount of sanction as he served a provisionary suspension, and this in turn allowed him to go back to the country and play again.

“It was a huge relief that we can get that suspension past me, and I’m just looking forward to moving forward,” he said.

“Just coming here to practice, seeing the guys, especially the young guys, just being back in the country, I just think it was great,” he said, while also praising the team’s young guns in Kevin Quiambao and Carl Tamayo.

“It’s a treat. Just seeing the energy and the skillset that each of those guys have, I think Philippine basketball is in the right way with those guys.”

One silver lining from his suspension, however, is that he was finally able to get some much-needed rest, especially since he played basketball for the majority of 2023

“Coming from that surgery before the Asian Games, these past few months definitely gave me time to heal,” expressed the 35-year-old, who played with Ginebra in the PBA Governors’ Cup, and with Gilas during the Southeast Asian Games, the 2023 FIBA World Cup build-up, and the 19th Asian Games.

“I just kept on preparing myself. I’m a little older now so whenever I can get some rest, unfortunately, it came from the way it did, but when I can get some rest, I take it.”

Brownlee will be making his return to the hardcourt when Gilas plays later this week, as they will be up against Hong Kong on Thursday, 8 PM, and Chinese Taipei on Sunday, 7:30 PM.