JUSTIN Brownlee finally underwent surgery for the dislocated thumb he suffered during the PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals between Barangay Ginebra and TNT.
A highly-reliable source at the Ginebra camp disclosed the 36-year-old import and Gilas Pilipinas naturalized player went under the knife on Wednesday.
SCENARIO: Gilas risks facing Australia, Japan if it fails to top group
“Natapos na yung operation niya,” said the source, adding Brownlee had his operation held here in the country.
“Saglit lang. Outpatient nga lang siya, e.”
It wasn’t disclosed though on when Brownlee would be able to play again after getting hurt in the latter part of the best-of-seven title series won by the Tropang 5G.
Sources bared doctors are looking at a July 8 return to basketball for the Ginebra resident import.
Gilas' next major tournament, the Fiba Asia Cup, will be held from August 5 to 17 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
The three-time Best Import played with a heavily-taped right hand beginning in Game 4 as he opted to finish the entire series after going down with the injury in the second half of Game 3.
Brownlee apparently suffered a torn ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) of the thumb.
“Naputol yung ligament sa right thumb niya. Tawag nila dun UCL. Kumbaga 'yung sa tuhod ACL (anterior cruciate ligament), naputol din yung ligament,” said the same source.
“Kaya yung thumb niya heavily-taped kasi kapag inalis mo yun (tape) lalaylay yung daliri.”
But even with Brownlee injured, Ginebra came close to winning the championship as it took a 3-2 lead in the series.
Unfortunately, the Kings failed to hang on as the Tropang 5G swept the last two games including the thrilling Game 7 which went into overtime, 87-83, to win their second straight title in the league’s Season 49.
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