MANILA, Philippines — Barangay Ginebra’s Justin Brownlee is three-for-three in the PBA Finals.
And he just hopes it could go on for eternity.
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The American import, who could easily be remembered as the one who ended Ginebra’s eight-year title drought via a jumpshot over Meralco Bolts’ Allen Durham nearly two years ago, won his latest PBA crown Wednesday at the expense of the reigning conference champions San Miguel Beermen.
“It's a blessing to be able just compete in the Finals, to be able to just compete in this league, definitely a blessing to me,” he told sports at the Mall of Asia Arena.
“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.
Brownlee was the steadiest hand for the Gin Kings in the five-game series, notching two double-double outings, and firing for 42 points in one game while missing only two shots.
That night, Brownlee was one of the vital cogs in arresting another title drought —Ginebra’s inability to win the mid-season joust crown for 21 years.
With all the feats he has scripted, fans are already calling him the greatest import of the franchise.
“Oh, okay. Man, that's a great compliment, I definitely love the compliment,” he said when asked about the praise. “You know, I don't like to think of myself like that. I just want to keep doing good, and just keep working hard, and whatever comes with that, you know I'll take it.”
Brownlee went on to wax nostalgic when he remembered his first tour of duty with the Gin Kings.
“I definitely didn't expect this. I was just hoping I could come and help out the team, you know with Paul (Harris), he was injured. I think he had a time table, 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, and I was gonna be the replacement,” he shared.
Now winning three for the crowd favorites and a Best Import to boot, Brownlee has indeed cemented his place among the Ginebra hoops lore.
And he hopes this goes on and on and on.
“I wish forever,” Brownlee said when asked how long does he want to play for the famed franchise. “But 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.”