JUSTIN BROWNLEE failing a doping test in Hangzhou won’t have any effect on the country’s victory in the men’s 5×5 basketball competition at the Hangzhou 19th Asian Games.

“The gold remains with us,” Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Rep. Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino said on Friday.

Tolentino said that if two of Brownlee’s Gilas Pilipinas teammates also test positive, that’s the only time when the Philippines’ gold medal will be forfeited.

He cited Article 11.2 of the Anti-Doping Rule of the International Olympic Committee that states under “Consequences for Team Sports” that “If more than two members of a team in a Team Sport is found to have committed an anti-doping rule violation … the CAS [Court of Arbitration for Sport] Anti-Doping Division may impose an appropriate sanction on the team (e.g., loss of points, Disqualification from a Competition, Event or the Olympic Games Rio 2016, or other sanction) as provided in the applicable rules of the relevant International Federation, in addition to any consequences imposed upon the individual Athletes committing the antidoping rule violation.”

Brownlee is the second athlete on Team Philippines who tested positive for doping on their A Sample taken during the Hangzhou Games.

Mountain bike cycling athlete Ariana Evangelista earlier returned an “Adverse Analytical Finding” after she was randomly tested ahead of her competition early in the games.

Both Brownlee and Evangelista are provisionally suspended until after the result of their B sample—are analyzed in their defense.

Brownlee has until October 19 to contest the result of his A Sample through appropriate procedures set by the IOC, ITA and the World Anti-Doping Agency.

Tolentino said that Brownlee’s teammates have also been tested as well as their final opponent Jordan, which also had one player failing the test.

“All Brownlee needs is to prove his innocence in contesting the result if he allows testing his B Sample,” Tolentino said.

A two-year suspension will be imposed if the B Sample also yields a positive result.

(AI/MNM)

IN A stunning turn of events, Justin Brownlee’s remarkable performance led Gilas Pilipinas to a sensational comeback victory over host nation China, with a final score of 77-76 Wednesday night.

This thrilling win secured their place in the finals of the men’s basketball competition at the 19th Asian Games.

When the situation looked dire, Brownlee rose to the occasion, embarking on a scoring spree that included three crucial field goals, the last two of which were remarkable 3-pointers. These dramatic shots left the heavily partisan crowd at the HOC Gymnasium in Hangzhou in disbelief.

The climax came with Brownlee sinking a 3-pointer over two Chinese defenders with just 23 seconds remaining. In the subsequent possession, China attempted to respond but fell short when Zhang Zhenlin’s attempt from beyond the arc missed the mark. Gilas secured the rebound and watched the clock expire.

This remarkable turnaround began with Gilas trailing by as much as 20 points in the second half, with a score of 46-26. However, their determination and resilience shone through, and they managed to narrow the gap to four points, 71-67, with 4:34 left in the game, thanks to a crucial basket by Kevin Alas.

China seemed to regain control, extending their lead to 76-67 with just over three minutes remaining after a 3-pointer by Runwang Du and a 2-pointer by Hu. But Gilas wasn’t finished. CJ Perez’s 2-pointer and a stunning floater by Brownlee brought the deficit back to five, 76-71, with 1:31 on the clock. Then came Brownlee’s jaw-dropping back-to-back 3-pointers.

Brownlee ended the game with an impressive 33 points, including seven successful 3-pointers. He also contributed five rebounds and four assists to the team’s victory. Rui Zhao led China with 18 points and six assists.

With this thrilling victory, the current Gilas team assembled just weeks before the Asiad, has dethroned China, which had long dominated Asian basketball. The finals, scheduled for 8 p.m. on Friday, October 6 (Manila time), will see Gilas face off against Jordan in a rematch of their earlier group play encounter.

This marks the Philippines’ first appearance in an Asiad finals since the 1990 edition of the Games, also held in China, where they finished as the runners-up behind the host nation.

Securing a guaranteed silver medal in this year’s Asiad is a significant achievement, the first since 1998 when the Filipino basketball team, interestingly, was also under the guidance of their current coach, Tim Cone, and brought home the bronze medal.

(ai/mnm)