PBA: The legend of Justin Brownlee just keeps growing for Ginebra

MANILA, Philippines—In Justin Brownlee’s first game for Ginebra, he suffered a bad case of cramps and had to be subbed out in a crucial stretch. The Gin Kings lost that game to Alaska, 109-100, in overtime.

At the time, Brownlee’s teammates came to his defense. LA Tenorio explained that he was still not used to the weather in the Philippines, thus the cause of his cramps.

This was back in the 2016 PBA Governors’ Cup. Brownlee was not even Ginebra’s first choice as import; he came in to replace the injured Paul Harris. But by that time that conference ended, it was obvious that Brownlee was going to be a part of Ginebra lore.

It was Brownlee who ended Ginebra’s title-drought by drilling the game-winning 3-pointer in Game 6 of their title series against Meralco.

Two years later, his legend just keeps growing: Brownlee led Ginebra to back-to-back Governors’ Cup titles in 2017, then starred in the triumph over San Miguel Beer in the finals of the 2018 PBA Commissioner’s Cup.

“I definitely didn’t expect this,” Brownlee said after scoring 31 points and grabbing 19 rebounds in Ginebra’s title-clinching 93-77 win in Game 6 on Wednesday night.

“I was just hoping I could come and help out the team, you know with Paul, he was injured. I think he had a timetable, a few weeks to a month or whatever it was. I was just coming in to just do whatever I can to help the team win,” he added.

Three PBA titles later, and it’s fair to say that Brownlee has done what he set out to do. Moreover, it’s not just Ginebra fans that love him: thanks to his efforts for San Miguel Alab Pilipinas in the ASEAN Basketball League, he has become beloved all over the country.

“It’s just a blessing to be able to compete in the finals, to be able to compete in this league. Definitely a blessing to me,” said Brownlee, who averaged 31.5 points on 69% shooting on top of 10.5 rebounds and 5.8 assists in the best-of-7 series.

“I'm just very happy, ecstatic, and I'm just gonna keep working hard, and hopefully I just continue to have success here in the Philippines,” he added.

If both Brownlee and Tim Cone have their way, those successes will come with the import wearing a Ginebra uniform.

“Man, I wish forever,” Brownlee said when asked how long he sees himself playing for Ginebra.

“I don't know, man. Just see how it goes. I hope for a long time, you know, but I'm just gonna see how it goes.”

Cone said: “He is special, and we're gonna keep him as long as he can stay healthy and as long as he can continue to play.”

The next challenge for Brownlee, named best import in the Commissioner’s Cup, will be to lead Ginebra to a three-peat in the Governors’ Cup. It will be a tall task; Cone said his prized import will have a “huge target" come the third conference.

“There's a lot of really good imports coming in and I think in many ways Justin has an easier time in the big conference to score and do his thing, because nobody can really match up to him,” said Cone. “But come the (6-foot-5) conference, there's a lot of imports out there that can match up to him.”

Brownlee himself did not appear too worried about being the “measuring stick" for the rest of the imports, as Cone described him.

“I'm sure it's gonna be very tough. And if there's a target on my back, that is what it is, that's something I'm not gonna worry about. I'm just focused on getting better every day and just trying to help the team win,” said Brownlee.

Regardless of how the Governors’ Cup goes, however, Brownlee has already established himself as a legend. Tenorio has dubbed him the best import he ever played with, and some fans have gone so far as to say that he is already the best import in Ginebra history.

“Man, that’s a great compliment,” said Brownlee. “I definitely love the compliment.”

“But you know I don’t like to think of myself like that,” he added. “I just want to keep doing good, and just keep working hard, and whatever comes with that, you know I'll take it.”

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