Ginebra import Justin Brownlee ahead of the PBA Governors’ Cup Finals Game 6. —MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
Justin Brownlee’s erstwhile pristine record in the Philippine Basketball Association’s (PBA) Finals was blemished on Friday night.
The beloved Barangay Ginebra import saw his six-of-six title run snapped by the TNT Tropang Giga, who disposed of his Gin Kings in six games in the PBA Governors’ Cup championship series.
“It’s a bittersweet feeling,” he told the Inquirer at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
“Of course, I’m disappointed that we lost, but like I’ve said man, we didn’t lose the draw. The guys fought hard and I couldn’t be more proud of everybody for simply doing and giving their all,” he added.
A win over the Tropang Giga in that race-to-four championship race would’ve given Brownlee a seventh crown and moved him a notch above Sean Chambers, the winningest reinforcement in the league.
Brownlee can find redemption of sorts when he reinforces a squad tasked to reclaim the gold medal in the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Cambodia next month.
“I’m excited,” Brownlee said of the upcoming gig. “Luckily I’m still in good health and good shape. So you know, hopefully, I’d get into practice and get going to help try [Gilas Pilipinas] redeem itself [with a] gold medal.”
Brownlee will have a little over two days to rest his body before plunging back into training with the National Team—not that he minds.
“At this point in my career, I’m getting older … so I just want to keep taking advantage of each opportunity I can get to play,” he said.
“Winning can decline very fast, so … whatever opportunity that presents itself, I’m just trying to make the best out of it,” added Brownlee, who turns 35 on Sunday.