Filipino fans have plenty of reasons to love Justin Brownlee.
Maybe some initially disliked him for being the greatest Barangay Ginebra San Miguel import, but donning the Gilas blue may have converted every doubters out there. Ending the country's 61-year gold medal drought in the Asian Games also helps.
More than being an exceptional basketball player though, Kababayan Justin is a better person off the court and his former teammates have vouched for the humble superstar.
Former Barangay Ginebra star guard Jayjay Helterbrand called JB a "total package" and "one of the best teammates" he ever had.
"Justin is the only teammate import I know 'yung walang arte, bro. Masipag siya. Never mo siyang makikitang nagagalit, nagko-complain, always positive, very humble," Helterbrand said in another YouTube upload from the PBA Motoclub.
"Humble talaga siya, sobrang bait, sa mga fans, sa management, sa mga teammates niya, kaya everyone likes him."
Rico Maierhofer who played with Brownlee for San Miguel Alab Pilipinas in 2018 also has a story about how down to Earth JB is.
"Kumain tayo sa karinderya, sa maliit na restaurant, kakain din siya. May mga import na hindi kakain. Si Justin Brownlee, kakain," Maierhofer said.
"Hindi maarte 'yan sa pagkain bro," Helterbrand added.
Maierhofer added that Brownlee won't complain even if the hotel accommodation is not that good.
"Noypi talaga e," Helterbrand said.
Noypi indeed.