Gilas Pilipinas and its supporters can now heave a sigh of relief.

Reason? The naturalization of Ginebra resident import Justin Browlee, one of the hottest properties in the PBA, got a stamp of approval from the House of Representatives.

On Tuesday, Nov. 29, 274 congressmen approved on third and final reading House Bill 6224, otherwise known as its version of the proposed naturalization of Brownlee.

Brownlee was grinning from ear to ear at the plenary when the voting was over.

“This is the House’s humble contribution to the national basketball team’s quest for glory in the FIBA World Cup. Anything is possible if you put our heart or ‘puso’ into it,” said Speaker Martin Romualdez, Leyte’s 1st district representative, said in a statement after the bill’s passage.

Brownlee, 34, originally from Georgia in the United States (US) has been very forthcoming about his plans of suiting up for Gilas Pilipinas men’s basketball team. As such, his naturalization bid was pursued by lawmakers.

One of the proponents of Brownlee’s Philippine naturalization in the House, 1-Pacman Party-list Rep. Mikee Romero, was equally delighted with the approval.  (ELLSON QUISMORIO)