By REYNALD MAGALLON
If an opportunity knocks, Justin Brownlee is willing to represent the Philippine flag once more even if he has to play again through cramps, under an oven-hot conditions and slippery linoleum floor.
Basking in the glory of winning his first gold medal for the Philippines in the Southeast Asian Games, none of that seems to matter anymore for Brownlee.
“I’ll play in any type of environment as long as it does not kill me. I love representing the Philippines. It’s been very special to me and my career. I’m ready to just keep repping the flag,” said Brownlee after Gilas Pilipinas’ 80-69 win over host Cambodia in the gold medal match.
“If the opportunity, hopefully it doesn’t get to any conditions but if they did and present itself, at least we have some experience now on how to deal with it,” he added.
Brownlee, did have to go through some struggles in the tournament, having a hard time to get himself acclimatized to the humid conditions of the venue.
But as usual when he was playing for Ginebra, the resident import showed heart and powered through dehydration and cramps to deliver when it mattered the most.
Less than a day after exploding for 34 points, in Gilas’ come-from-behind triumph over Indonesia in the semifinals, Brownlee once more did a little bit of everything with his 23 points, seven rebounds and four assists in the gold medal match.
Having gone through all that made the victory even sweeter for Brownlee.
“I definitely wasn’t satisfied with just having a good performance or looking good myself. I pride myself as a team player and you know, the team’s success is my success just like everybody else,” said Brownlee.
“When that clock hit zero, then I felt the most progress, just like winning a championship or now a gold medal. It’s an unbelievable feeling,” he added.
Already used to winning with six PBA championships already tucked under his belt, Brownlee admitted that he just cannot get used to winning, especially with the Gilas SEA Games golden run being one of the most memorable in his colorful career.
“I gotta put this at the top. Playing for Ginebra is truly special. There’s nothing like it. But I have to say that about representing and putting on this Pilipinas jersey? There’s nothing like it. It’s an unbelievable feeling,” said the amiable Gilas naturalized player.
