JUSTIN Brownlee admitted setting aside his friendship with James Dickey III as they squared off for the first time in the PBA 50th Season Commissioner’s Cup on Sunday night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The former Pelita Jaya teammates let their competitive spirit take over and went at each other toe-to-toe, with Bronwlee and Barangay Ginebra getting the 109-96 win over Dickey and Phoenix.
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Dickey had the better numbers as he came an assist short of a triple-double with his 21 points, 21 rebounds, and nine assists.
But Brownlee came through when it mattered most, dropping 21 of his 30 points in the second half as the Kings turned things around in the third and fourth quarters to book a second straight win and improve to 4-2.
The three-time Best Import winner also added nine rebounds and five assists in his match up against the player with whom he won a championship in the Indonesia Basketball League back in 2024.
The 37-year-old Brownlee said it was an awkward moment for him going up against his former teammate and friend.
“It’s kind of hard going up against a friend or pare,” said Brownlee of Dickey. “But when you get on the court, you just got to go in. He went at it and tried to go at him as hard as I can without showing that friendship.
“But I think it was great, it was very fun, and competitive.”
Brownlee disclosed he personally saw Dickey on the eve of the match.
“I just told him to go out there and play your game, play hard (coz) we’re not going to take it easy on you,” said the Gilas Pilipinas naturalized player.
And to be fair to Dickey, Brownlee said the Phoenix import delivered under pressure.
“He had a huge game for them, he did a lot for them on both ends of the floor,” said the Ginebra reinforcement
But at the end of the day, Brownlee has nothing but good words for Dickey, both as player and as a person.
“He’s a tough competitor, he’s a great person, a great guy off the court, I think everybody knows I played with him in Indonesia, and he’s a great teammate,” he added.
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