Justin Brownlee treats his latest PBA championship as a one of a kind achievement considering the challenges surrounding the pandemic and Barangay Ginebra San Miguel’s struggles early in the Governors’ Cup.
The Gin Kings’ 4-2 series win over the Meralco Bolts marked the fifth time that Brownlee has savored the sweet taste of success since he arrived with little fanfare in 2016.
But Brownlee said getting through another title run that was completed with a 103-92 win Friday, April 22 before 20,224 fans at the Mall of Asia Arena didn’t come without obstacles.
“Just myself coming back out here with the pandemic is special, because you know, I’m getting older. And I think it’s close to two years, not being out there,” Brownlee said. “I was questioning my self, like how would I come back. Not in the best of shape, have a bad injury. This is very special personally.
“Just being able to come back to the Philippines, still being able to play at a high level, and you know I share this moment with my teammates and the fans. It’s special, just being out there after everything that went on.”
Prior to his return, Brownlee had been out of action for a very long time after suffering an ankle injury while playing for an Abu Dhabi-based club in the United Arab Emirates.
The lengthy absence led to Brownlee having to go through the process of regaining his shape once he got the call to once again don the famous No. 32 jersey for the Gin Kings.
“It took about six or seven months for me to fully recover,” he said. “So I was just basically kind of just getting back to where I can comfortably play right before the conference. Maybe a couple of months before the conference.”
He later added that “it was difficult. I mean, just from having a great passion, just wanting to compete and play basketball.
“It was difficult trying to get in shape. I don’t know when I would play, if I’d ever play again I wouldn’t know because of the pandemic, it was just so up and down.”
In a way, Brownlee felt that the long break caused by the Covid-19 surge was beneficial in him getting into the old form, the hard work eventually paying off when Ginebra made its unlikely playoff run.
“It was hard. And then especially coming back, you know I really tried to work hard and I give a lot of credit to the coaching staff and the PT guys, I think they did a great job,” Brownlee said.
“Even when we had that break in January when everybody was getting Covid again, they did a great job with keeping guys in shape and you know helping me get in even better shape.”
Another championship enhanced Brownlee’s status as perhaps one of the greatest imports to ever play in the PBA. He bucked a two-point first half to score 17 in the third as the Gin Kings were able to take control of the contest.
In the process, Brownlee surpassed the great Billy Ray Bates for fifth on the all-time scoring list among imports.
Every achievement for Brownlee is quite remarkable, considering that he only came into the country in July 2016 with a one-month contract as a fill-in for the injured Paul Harris.
“I didn’t expect this. I mean, me when I first came, you know, I was only supposed to be here one month. And that’s what I had my mindset on. Just to try to help the team as much as I can, and when Paul got healthy, he would get back. I was just hoping to help the team.
“I didn’t have many expectations. Even till now. Whatever comes, I’m just trying to stay in the moment and make the best out of the moment. If more championships come, I’ll definitely accept them and be thankful for it.”
Ginebra’s victory came on the eve of his 34th birthday, an occasion that will likely mean a lot for Brownlee following another triumphant tour of duty in the Philippines.