PBA IMAGES
Down 0-2 in the 2017 PBA Commissioner’s Cup semifinals, Ginebra import Justin Brownlee was so focused in the duel that he didn’t even notice counterpart Joshua Smith leaving the game for TNT.
“I didn’t realize it. I was so locked into the game, I didn’t realize it until it was third or fourth quarter,” he said.
But that was the least of his concerns. All what matters was the Gin Kings staying alive in the 2017 PBA Commissioner’s Cup semifinals after the 125-101 Game 3 victory on Thursday.
READ: Brownlee stars as Ginebra stays alive
“(TNT) rely on him a lot and I think it’s going to be big for them. But for us, we can’t focus on that. We can’t worry about him or the other team and we just have to focus on what we do best and come up with a good plan whether he’s in there or not,” Brownlee said.
Brownlee was one of the huge reasons why Ginebra evaded the sweep as he caught fire early, unloading 17 points in the first half and adding. 14 more in the killer 35-point third quarter. He wound up with 31 points, 11 rebounds, four blocks, three steals, and two assists.
But the 29-year-old forward noted the rest of the squad also badly wanted to keep the series alive, hence the strong start.
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“Everybody was just aggressive and were taking shots when they’re open, trying to get to the basket. We’re moving the ball very well. That was the key for us. We played with a lot of joy, we enjoyed tonight. That’s the big key for us, continue to play with joy and play together,” he said.
Brownlee also thinks that the tall task of overcoming a 0-2 series hole was just the reality check Ginebra needed to clean up its act after topping the eliminations.
“I think maybe we got a little complacent being first place,” he said. “Since I came back in the Governor’s Cup, we were kind of like the underdogs and we played with a little chip on our shoulders being the underdogs.”
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And with this win, Brownlee is optimistic that the Gin Kings have rekindled their flame as they seek to force a deciding Game 5.
“We’re gonna come out and play hard no matter what happens. I think having that chip on our shoulder is very helpful for us,” he said.
Game 4 is on Saturday at Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay.