By REYNALD MAGALLON
The Brownlee magic is now in effect for Indonesian team Pelita Jaya.
Almost a month since signing for the Indonesian club, Barangay Ginebra resident import and Gilas Pilipinas naturalized player Justin Brownlee has brought nothing but positive impact.
After a double-double debut for Brownlee in the Indonesian Basketball League where he posted 14 points and 11 rebounds, the naturalized Filipino steered Pelita Jaya to a perfect 3-0 slate in the first phase of the Basketball Champions League Asia qualifiers.
Brownlee first put up an all-around game of 11 points, nine rebounds and six assists in Pelita Jaya’s 99-81 romp of Thai team Hi-Tech Basketball Club to open its campaign.
He followed that up with an even more impressive showing of 26 points, 12 rebounds and six assists to lift his Indonesian team to an 89-83 win over hometown bet Ulaanbaatar Xac Broncos.
Pelita Jaya then capped off the sweep with an 82-64 beating of Singapore’s Adroit Club with Brownlee firing away 18 points and grabbing six rebounds.
With Pelita Jaya making a statement with its meteoric rise in the qualifiers, a clash against PBA teams is now a prospect especially when it makes it to the main draw.
The PBA has an assured one slot in the BCL Asia tournament proper alongside the champions of B.League, Chinese Basketball Association and Korean Basketball League.
Asked about that prospect, Brownlee admitted he would be torn, especially if Ginebra, his mother team in the PBA, happens to be the league’s representative in the regional cagefest.
“I would be in a torn place. I got a lot of love for everyone in the Philippines and all so (to play) the Filipino team outside of the PBA, oh man, it will be tough for me,” Brownlee added.
He, however, was open to the idea and shared that it would still be ‘fun’ and ‘great’ facing off against familiar faces.
“At the same time, you got to compete, no matter who the opponent is. But I definitely wouldn’t want to. But I think it will be fun. It will be great,” added Brownlee.
