PBA Finals: Not even a hurt thumb can slow Justin Brownlee down

Barangay Ginebra’s Justin Brownlee against TNT Tropang Giga’s RR Pogoy during Game 5 of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals. –PBA IMAGES

MANILA, Philippines—Justin Brownlee stared at the face of looming pain, but put it aside to push Ginebra one step closer to winning the PBA Commissioner’s Cup.

Behind another gargantuan effort from import Brownlee despite playing with a hurt thumb, the Gin Kings defeated the Tropang Giga, 73-66, in Game 5 to move on the cusp of the crown.

At one point in the neck-and-neck affair, Brownlee fell to the floor, hand-first, after a collision with Roger Pogoy.

HIGHLIGHTS: PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals – Ginebra vs TNT Game 5

The Gin Kings bench and the Ginebra fans in attendance held their collective breaths until Brownlee just nonchalantly shook the pain off and continued to go on an offensive barrage in the second half to power the squad to a 3-2 lead.

“I just took a fall and when you fall, you tend to brace yourselves with your hands. I hit it a little bit but it’s not too bad,” said a beaming Brownlee at Araneta Coliseum on Sunday.

“In my mind, I just try to deal with the pain and keep winning.”

Brownlee, though, continued to play like he wasn’t dealing with an injury and finished with 18 points—16 in the second half—14 rebounds, five assists and a steal in 45 minutes of action.

Since injuring his thumb in Game 3, the Gilas naturalized big man seemed to have a new mentality engrained for the best-of-seven series–which Ginebra has a chance to wrap up on Wednesday.

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“I got a little worried but not too much because I understand where it’s [thumb] at and right now there’s no way it can get better or worse. As long as it stays in place, I’m good,” he said.

Brownlee looks to power the Gin Kings to another franchise championship in Game 6, at the same venue.