Brownlee gets Ginebra win as birthday gift

Photo by Tristan Tamayo/ INQUIRER.net

Ginebra has gotten so used to Justin Brownlee churning huge numbers that Sunday’s game was nothing out of the ordinary.

However, the returning import’s showing against TNT is actually a special one for Brownlee for the simple reason that the 107-89 win coincided with his 29th birthday.

“I’m not too familiar in my past games if I won or lost anything but this birthday was definitely a special one with the way the team embraced me,” he said. “For them to dedicate this game to me, that alone is special.”

Brownlee had everything going his way against the KaTropa, leading the Gin Kings with his 34 points, powered by four treys, alongside 15 rebounds and six assists in the win.

He also had enough lift from his supporting cast, with LA Tenorio and Japeth Aguilar doing their part to keep Ginebra’s win streak alive at four and go to the All-Star break with a 4-1 card.

For Brownlee, though, the main reason for the team’s success is due to the excellence of coach Tim Cone.

“Coach Tim is doing a great job with our game plan. That alone, I think teams are having a hard time adjusting to his game plan every game,” he said.

That’s also the reason why Brownlee isn’t worried that much with the team’s upcoming two-week break before returning to the court on May 7 against Alaska.

“Not playing can throw you off your rhythm a little bit, but I’m sure we’re going to be practicing. We still got a lot of room to grow and the good thing is we haven’t hit our ceiling. We’re still getting better and better. I think with the days we don’t play, it allows us to just only get better,” he said.

The key, Brownlee says, is for Ginebra to stay to its course.

“We just got to stay together,” he said. “Our defense, we just got to communicate with each other and just stay fundamental. I think if we continue to go with coach Tim’s game plan, and stay fundamental on both ends of the court, we’ll be okay.”