We love to call him 'Kabayan.' We cheered for him when he led our Gilas Pilipinas to the Asian Games gold medal, and also beat Latvia in the Olympic qualifiers. Justin Brownlee is a national hoops hero, and there was no mistake that he really deserves all the benefits of being Filipino as mandated by naturalization.

The Philippines has given him all the rights of a full-blooded local. Everything, except to play in the PBA Philippine Cup (formerly known as the All-Filipino Conference). Despite all the accolades and honors he has brought to our country, and undergoing the long, tedious step of naturalization, he could not play as a real 'kabayan.'