PHOENIX import James Dickey III, in an interview after the game, urged fans to come out and support his team after being named as the best player of the game by the TV panel.
“We need a lot more fans,” Dickey said in the broadcast interview. “I know everyone is Ginebra and San Miguel, but hopefully, we get more Phoenix fans."
Dickey is quite familiar to the Philippine basketball landscape, more so since he was once a teammate of Justin Brownlee, the resident import of the most popular team in the country, Barangay Ginebra.
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Dickey and Brownlee were teammates when they played together at Pelita Jaya in Indonesia in 2024 where they won the crown.
“JB is my vet,” the 29-year-old Dickey told SPIN.ph. “We played together in Indonesia. JB is a winner. You know that JB’s team is going to win. I was able to win a championship and that was super cool.”
“When you win a championship, you build that bond for life,” said Dickey, who was already spotted with Brownlee watching one of the playdates of the PVL.
Dickey, a product of University of North Carolina-Greensboro, said all throughout the season in Indonesia, Brownlee has always talked about how exciting it is playing in the Philippines, even encouraging him to play if an opportunity arises.
“The whole season he was talking about the Philippines. ‘I know Indonesia (is good), but go to the Philippines.’ Philippines, Philippines, Philippines,” said Dickey, recalling his conversations with Brownlee.
That chance opened up in the lead-up to the Commissioner’s Cup where Phoenix came calling for his services.
Phoenix coach Charles Tiu admitted that Brownlee was one of the persons he spoke to about Dickey.
“I consulted guys like Brownlee and C-Mac (Chris McCollough) na teammate ni James. I said I need a guy who is a good guy, a guy with a good attitude. So far, he has been great. I have no complaints. He brings the guys together. He doesn’t complain. He is an all-around team guy. I like having that as an import. It’s so much easy and fun to coach,” said Tiu.
Dickey was glad that Brownlee had good things to say about him when Tiu asked around for a recommendation.
“It makes me feel good that JB speaks highly of me. When he says something, it means a lot. I don’t want to make JB look bad so I’m glad I got to work. Shoutout to JB,” said Dickey.
Dickey made a good impression to the PBA fans in his first game when he finished with 20 points and 26 rebounds in Phoenix’s 101-98 win over Magnolia to open the Commissioner’s Cup.
Dickey vowed to continue working hard for the Fuelmasters with Brownlee supporting him in his PBA career.
“I’m excited that I finally got the opportunity. JB, he texted before the game, gave me some advice. He is a good person to have in your corner out here. He’s done everything. To be able to pick up the phone and have a relationship with somebody like him, it means a world to me. He’s a great guy,” said Dickey.
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