BARANGAY Ginebra’s PBA Season 50 Commissioner’s Cup title conquest Wednesday night added another gem to Justin Brownlee’s legendary status as he became the winningest foreign reinforcement to ever play in the Philippine Basketball Association.
Entering the most recent conference finals, Brownlee was tied with former Alaska import Sean Chambers with six PBA championships.
But that easily changed when Brownlee, weaving his magic and oozing with championship experience, lifted Ginebra back to PBA prominence with its 4-3 conquest of TNT for the franchise’s eighth diadem under coach Tim Cone.
At 38, the 6-foot-4 Brownlee is aging like fine wine.
Asked during a post-game interview at mid-court, moments after leading Ginebra to promised land, the Gilas naturalized player became emotional and shed tears of joy.
“Ten years ago I would never have thought I’d be still playing at 38 years old and winning championships,” Brownlee said, his voice cracking in front of 24,617 fans who chanted his name in unison at the packed SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
While players his age normally show signs of slowing down and decline in production, Brownlee was business as usual in the final series.
The resident Ginebra reinforcement banged in eye-popping numbers of 34.1 points, 11.3 rebounds, and 5.9 assists in the epic seven-game title series.
Brownlee was at his element in the title-clinching Game 7 win, finishing with 30 points, 14 rebounds and five assists.
“I was thinking about the losses. I was thinking about the opportunity of being here. I’ve been very fortunate to play in 10 finals. I think that type of stuff normally doesn’t happen. It’s just everything,” said Brownlee, who also moved up to second all-time with four Best Import awards, behind the late Bobby Parks, Sr. with whom the award was named after.
Brownlee’s journey to a seventh league title didn’t come easily.
For one, he had to deal with a slew of tall imports in a conference that allowed PBA squads to field in seven footers.
In fact, some PBA fans believe things would have been different in the Finals had 7-foot-3 NBA veteran Bol Bol did not get injured during TNT’s semifinal showdown versus Meralco.
Bol, son of the late NBA legend Manute Bol, torn his Achilles in Game 2 of the semis series versus the Bolts, paving the way for Chris McCullough to come in as replacement import.
Brownlee also faced 6-foot-9 Jaylen Johnson of Rain or Shine in the semis which Ginebra won, 4-2.
