JUSTINE Brownlee only has a few days to lick his wounded pride and bruised ego.
By weekend, the naturalized Filipino will be back in business as Gilas Pilipinas starts building up for its preparation for the second window of the FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers.
National coach Tim Cone has scheduled a Nov. 15 meet up for Gilas as it warms up for its coming campaign in the Nov. 21-24 window slated at the Mall of Asia Arena.
That gives Brownlee - along with Cone and other Ginebra players in the Gilas pool - just a week of pondering on what exactly happened in the Kings' PBA Governors Cup finals campaign which saw them lost to TNT Tropang Giga in six games.
The 36-year-old import was held to just 16 points, six rebounds, and four assists in the 95-85 loss in the series-clinching Game 6.
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It's not exactly the kind of state from which Brownlee could pick up his game, but it is what it is, according to him.
"Just try to get over off first. You know, it's a tough loss," said Brownlee as he tried to look back on the Kings' title loss against the Tropang Giga. "It just hurts a little bit coming up short."
But eventually, the finals setback has to take the backseat as Gilas will be up against New Zealand and Hong Kong in the four-day meet.
"Definitely, you still got a responsibility to go out there and fight for the country. And we got two tough opponents in New Zealand and Hong Kong," Brownlee noted.
"We've got a few days before we go to training camp. So just get ready for that and prepare for the team and try to do our best."
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The national team faces New Zealand on the 21st and then take on Hong Kong on the 24th.
It will be the first time the Filipinos play the Tall Blacks in the Asia Cup qualifiers, while they routed Hong Kong on the road, 94-64, in their first meeting last February.
The Philippines and New Zealand are currently tied on top of Group B with similar 2-0 slates, and Gilas' showdown with the Tall Blacks is one game Brownlee is highly anticipating.
"New Zealand is one of the top teams in the world, so it's going to be a good matchup and a good test for us," said the naturalized player.(RG)
