Push Admin

PBA: The reason Justin Brownlee keeps coming back to Manila

Article (news)

ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2017/sports/10/28/pba-2017-102817.jpg"/><figcaption>Justin Brownlee hopes to win another crown for Ginebra next year. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN news</figcaption></figure></div>With the way the predominantly pro-Barangay Ginebra crowd cheered for the team at Philippine Arena Friday, Justin Brownlee said he&#x27;s inclined to return for a third year.A gigantic crowd of 54,086 spectators witnessed Ginebra nabbing its second straight PBA Governors&#x27; Cup title at the expense of Meralco and it was an overwhelming feeling for the former St. John University standout. Brownlee, who has played in Italy and France besides his home country, said the record crowd proved that nobody appreciates basketball more than Filipinos do.<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="http://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/10/28/17/pba-after-winning-20th-title-why-cone-cant-wait-to-talk-to-pal-erik-spoelstra">PBA: After winning 20th title, why Cone can’t wait to talk to pal Erik Spoelstra</a></li></ul>&quot;I&#x27;ve never played in anything like this. Just looking up, man, it&#x27;s an amazing view from down here,&quot; the 29-year-old said.&quot;Filipinos are very different from other fans from other countries. They really love basketball here. So I&#x27;m just blessed to be here and to perform in front of this amount of people.&quot;When asked if he&#x27;d be willing to play for Ginebra next season, he said: &quot;I sure hope so, so we could win another one.&quot;<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="http://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/10/27/17/pba-ginebra-holds-off-meralco-to-win-championship">PBA: Ginebra holds off Meralco to win championship</a></li></ul>Unlike Ginebra&#x27;s title victory in the 2016 edition of the Governors&#x27; Cup, Brownlee didn&#x27;t need to pull off a miraculous feat to beat Meralco.This time, everyone in the team stepped up.Brownlee had 23 points, 3 points shy of LA Tenorio&#x27;s 26. Joe DeVance, Scottie Thompson and Greg Slaughter also made significant contributions.&quot;The team fought hard. Everybody in the team deserved it,&quot; said Brownlee.Coach Tim Cone said the beauty of having someone like Brownlee in the roster is that the import was able to blend well with his teammates.&quot;He&#x27;s a really, really super nice guy,&quot; said Cone. &quot;The players love him, easiest guy to coach and he&#x27;a big-shot maker, he plays big moments really, really well. He&#x27;s so calm all the time . . . He prepares to do whatever it takes, keeps his team mates involved.&quot;(For more sports coverage, visit the <a href="http://sports.abs-cbn.com/">ABS-CBN Sports website</a>.)

Brownlee, who has played in Italy and France besides his home country, said the record crowd in Game 7 proved that nobody appreciates basketball more than Filipinos do.

Brownlee, who has played in Italy and France besides his home country, said the record crowd in Game 7 proved that nobody appreciates basketball more than Filipinos do.