Fil-American Jason Brickman makes history in US NCAA Division I

Fil-American Jason Brickman (right) of Long Island University made history after reaching 1,000 assists Sunday (Manila time)

MANILA, Philippines — Filipinos just got another reason to be proud.

Jason Brickman, a Filipino-American college basketball player, made it into the US NCAA record books when he became only the fourth player in Division I to reach at least 1,000 assists.

The 22-year-old Brickman hit the milestone at the 8:33 mark of the first half on a pass to Gerrell Martin for a 3-pointer, according to a report by ESPN.

Brickman, a pure point guard, wound up with 12 assists in his final game for the Long Island University (LIU) Brooklyn Blackbirds during a 62-81 loss to Bryant Bulldogs Sunday (Manila time).

He joined former Duke star Bob Hurley, who ranks no. 1 in all-time assists with 1,076, NC State’s Chris Corchiani (1,038) and North Carolina’s Ed Cota (1,030).

Brickman, whose mother was born in the Philippines, also became the first Division I men’s player to average double digits in points (11.3) and assists (10.0) since ex-San Antonio Spurs playmaker Avery Johnson did the feat while playing for Southern University back in the 1987-88 season.

Brickman led the NCAA in assists in his last two seasons and led LIU to the NCAA Tournament in his first three years before injuries to the team’s other key players hurt the Blackbirds’ chances of making it this year.

In February, 17-year-old Michael Martinez became the first Filipino to represent his country and the first in Southeast Asia to compete in the Winter Olympics held this year in Sochi, Russia.

Martinez finished 19^th out of 24 in the medal round.

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