JUSTIN Brownlee played his first game in the Philippines in months, and he definitely gave the Filipino fans something to cheer about.
Brownlee had 26 points and 13 rebounds on Sunday in leading Gilas Pilipinas to a 106-53 win over Chinese Taipei at the Philsports Arena at the end of the first window of the Fiba Asia Cup 2025 qualifiers.
Brownlee last played an official game on Philippine soil last April 21 when Barangay Ginebra lost to TNT in the finals of the 2023 PBA Governors’ Cup.
His Gilas stints were purely abroad when he saw action in the Southeast Asian Games in Cambodia and the Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, all of which ended up with gold medals.
Brownlee missed the recent PBA Commissioner’s Cup after he tested positive during a doping test at the end of the Asian Games.
“I missed it. I missed the fans more than anything,” said Brownlee. “I just missed seeing the smiles and just being able to make them cheer and just seeing their passion for the game.”
“They definitely came in with some energy and it made me want to be more aggressive. Just to hear that crowd roar, just to put a smile on their faces and make them cheer and be happy,” said Brownlee.
Barangay Ginebra coach Tim Cone admitted Brownlee was not in his usual shape for the Chinese Taipei match due to a case of dehydration.
“Actually, he (Jamie Malonzo) and Justin were both sick coming home when we got home from Hong Kong. They both got sick. We were afraid that neither of them would play. But Justin kinda bounced back and he is feeling a little bit under the weather,” said Cone.
“I think some of the guys just got dehydrated severely on the trip, and we didn’t hydrate enough. I have to be cognizant of that, making sure that guys are doing that better. Kinda like a travel fatigue,” said Cone.
Brownlee confirmed that he was a bit sick, but felt better due to the fans.
“I got to be honest, I was a little down coming here. But coming here and seeing these fans and stuff like that, showing great support, it definitely has cheered me up. I’m on that high again as far as being excited. It just feels great,” said Brownlee.
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