AFTER his disappointment in the PBA Governors’ Cup finals, Justin Brownlee (JB) is determined to play well against Gilas Pilipinas in the FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers (ACQ).
Mr. Brownlee remains in Manila to rest and recover after Ginebra’s painful 2-4 loss to TNT back in the finals, where he was held to a paltry 19.67 points per game, including his single-game career low of eight, and 20% three-point shooting.
He has about a week to recharge both physically and mentally before reporting to the Gilas camp in Laguna on Friday ahead of the Nationals’ two home assignments against New Zealand (Nov. 21) and Hong Kong (Nov. 24).
“I definitely still have the responsibility to go out (and) fight for the country. And we’ve got two tough competitors – New Zealand and Hong Kong,” Mr Brownlee said.
“We have a few days before we go to training camp, just prepare for that and prepare with the team and try to do our best,” he said.
Mr. Brownlee was in the same situation as last year, when the Gin Kings lost for the first time in the battle for the Governors’ Cup plum to Rondae Hollis-Jefferson (RHJ) and Tropang Giga.
Just a few weeks after that April 2023 defeat, Mr. Brownlee joined the Nationals in a bid to regain the gold lost at the Southeast Asian Games in Cambodia. That Gilas “rescue team” finished the job by eliminating 80-69 athletes from other countries in the final where Mr. Brownlee dismisses 23 in the clinger.
Mr. Brownlee, who later led Gilas to Asian Games gold with Jordan-led RHJ in October 2023, will have to be at his best against 22.n.d-is NZ standard. The Tall Blacks have defeated the Philippines in their last four matches since 2016.
“New Zealand is one of the best teams in the world, so it will be a good game and a good test for us,” said Mr. Brownlee.
JB leads Gilas in points (21) and efficiency (32.5) in the ACQ’s opening window while emerging as the team’s second-leading rebounder with 10 behind Kai Sotto (12.5) and No. 2 in 6 assists behind Scottie Thompson (9) . – Olmin Leyba
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