‘Great guy, player’: Balkman congratulates Brownlee on Best Import plum

It’s been said many times that basketball forms brotherhoods and it cannot be any truer when it comes too Ginebra’s Justin Brownlee and San Miguel’s Renaldo Balkman.

Both imports, who have managed to form a strong bond since they both reinforced Alab Pilipinas in their title campaign in the ASEAN Basketball League, were up for the Best Import award Friday night.

But Brownlee, after losing twice in a row in the Governors’ Cup voting, did not let this one slip away and one-upped his good pal Balkman for the award.

Balkman, who came second in the race, is nothing but proud of what his former teammate achieved.

“Congratulations to him,” said Balkman after his Beermen lost to Brownlee’s Gin Kings 130-100 in Game 4 of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup finals Friday at Smart Araneta Coliseum. “There’s no bad blood between us and he’ll probably say the same thing.”

“He’s a great guy, great player, much respect to him. We’re both tough guys and he got it. It’s all good.”

Brownlee had a total of 1209 points in the voting that counted in the players’ stats and nods from the PBA, the players, and the media.

Balkman accumulated a total of 858 points.

And as the series dwindled into a virtual best of three after a 2-2 stalemate in the first four games, Balkman is looking at the bigger trophy.

“Championships mean a lot to me, not the Best Import,” said Balkman who had 14 points and 11 rebounds in Game 4.