LAS VEGAS – San Miguel Corp. sports director and Barangay Ginebra PBA governor Alfrancis Chua said the other day once Justin Brownlee’s application for naturalization is approved by law, he could be the perfect foreign player for the national team since height wouldn’t be a problem with JuneMar Fajardo, Greg Slaughter and Japeth Aguilar providing the ceiling as locals.
Chua made the comment while discussing the PBA’s partnership with the SBP in the national team program during the PBA Board of Governors’ planning meeting here last weekend. Chua said the San Miguel Group is 100 percent behind the SBP in supporting the national squad. In coach Yeng Guiao’s current national pool of 17, nine are from the San Miguel Group – Fajardo, Slaughter, Aguilar, Marcio Lassiter, Alex Cabagnot, Ian Sangalang, Christian Standhardinger, Scottie Thompson and Paul Lee.
Brownlee, 30, was measured 6-4 5/8 by the PBA and is much shorter than the 6-11 Andray Blatche who has served as the country’s naturalized player since the 2014 FIBA World Cup in Spain. Blatche, however, has been suspended for three games and won’t be available until the second contest of the fifth window of the 2019 FIBA Asia/Pacific World Cup Qualifiers late this year. Brownlee’s naturalization is now undergoing process.
“Justin has shown he can defend big or small guys,” said Chua. “He won a championship for Ginebra in the recent Commissioner’s Cup where the import height limit was 6-10. In the Governors Cup, he’s the import yardstick. But more than his playing ability, Justin is a sincere person who loves the Philippines. He’s serious about settling down here and that’s why he’s applying for naturalization.”
Brownlee is playing in his fifth conference with Ginebra and has won three championships so far under coach Tim Cone. In the ongoing Governors Cup, he’s averaging 35.3 points, 13 rebounds and 7.3 assists in three outings which Ginebra has swept. After Ginebra downed Alaska, 109-101, last Sept. 2, Chua said Brownlee could’ve scored 80 points or even 100 if he wanted to but chose to get teammates involved. Brownlee finished with 45 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists.
“You couldn’t ask for a better import,” said Chua. “He doesn’t ask for a salary increase even if he’s brought three titles to Ginebra. He converts his won-game bonus from dollars to pesos which he distributes to the ballboys. After we won the Commissioner’s Cup title, Justin gave shoes to all the ballboys and personalized shoes to his veteran teammates. When his kids are in town, he doesn’t ask management to take care of their accommodations. He pays on his own. It’s just the way he is.”
Chua said with Brownlee’s talents, he could easily play in the NBA. “I think in some ways, Justin is even a better fit for the Philippine team than Jordan (Clarkson) although it would be a dream if both could play together,” he said. “If Jordan is classified as a local since he’s a legit Fil-Am, imagine a lineup with Clarkson, JuneMar, Greg, Japeth and Justin. What makes Justin special is his attitude. He’s a team player. And he wants to win.”
Chua said Brownlee arrived in Manila four days before Ginebra’s first game against Columbian in the Governors Cup. “No problem,” said Chua. “There were lots of delays and cancellations of flights on his way to Manila so it wasn’t an easy trip. But Justin came out to score 34 points and grab 20 rebounds as we beat Columbian, 96-84. He didn’t want to let management, his teammates and the coaching staff down.”
Brownlee came in as a replacement for Ginebra import Paul Harris in the 2016 Governors Cup. Harris recommended Brownlee to San Miguel Corp. president Ramon S. Ang who gave his go-signal to bring in the former St. John’s University swingman. Brownlee has since made Ginebra his PBA home.
Before rejoining Ginebra this year, Brownlee teamed with Renaldo Balkman to lead San Miguel Pale Pilsen Alab Pilipinas to the ABL title. Brownlee won’t be able to play for Alab in the coming season because of a conflict in schedule with the Governors Cup. Alab is reportedly tapping 7-3 Puerto Rican P. J. Ramos as one of its imports and may bring back Balkman as his partner. Ramos, 33, has played in the NBA and was the Kia import in the PBA in 2014.