This one was extra special for the beloved naturalized Filipino.
Justin Brownlee has many conquests in his decorated Philippine basketball career, but Gilas Pilipinas’ Southeast Asian Games gold-medal finish was unlike any other.
While his six championships with the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel in the PBA were truly special, the naturalized Filipino bared there’s nothing like winning a medal for the country.
“Man, I gotta put this up there at the top. Playing for Ginebra is truly special. I must admit it’s truly special,” he said after Gilas’ 80-69 win over the naturalized player-laden Cambodia in the finals on Tuesday. “But I have to say that representing and putting on this Filipino jersey, there’s nothing like it.”
As a Ginebra resident import, the whole barangay has JB's back. This time, though, Justin Noypi had the entire nation rooting for him.
“It’s an unbelievable feeling when you got the whole country behind your back supporting you and wanting you to do great, just kind of feed off that energy and you just go out there and give it your all,” he said.
Indeed, he left it all on the floor.
The three-time PBA Best Import followed up a 34-point performance against hitherto reigning champion Indonesia in the semifinals with 23 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 assists in the convincing win.
“I pride myself for going out there and leaving it on the floor and like I said before, the Filipino pride, that’s what’s all about. Win, lose, draw, we leave it all out on the floor and whatever happens we live with it,” he said.
(With reports from Paolo del Rosario, One Sports)
(GM)