He looked spent on the bench when he was taken out for good.
Six-time PBA champion Justin Brownlee looked well on his way to another one of those big nights for Barangay Ginebra San Miguel in Game 5 of the PBA Governors’ Cup finals. He got an early slam off a Scottie Thompson steal and assist. He got ahead of the pack in transition for an easy lay-in, again off a dime from Thompson. He even hit a trey from straightaway.
After one, Brownlee was already up to 9 points to lead Ginebra to an early lead against the TNT Tropang Giga in the pivotal game at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
But starting in the second quarter, it slowly became obvious that something was not right with Brownlee. He looked lethargic and seemed to be going through the motions. He did not even take charge as he so often does in important games.
Then, the third quarter rolled along and the 34-year-old reinforcement looked dead in the water, struggling at times to walk or even stand upright—until Ginebra coach Tim Cone mercifully took him out of the game at the 7:19 mark.
At that point, the rabbit was out of the hat: Something was, indeed, bothering Brownlee. According to courtside reports, the three-time Best Import was suffering from a bad case of food poisoning. It was so bad, in fact, that the Georgia native was seen vomiting on the bench as Ginebra’s medical staff attended to him.
Brownlee never returned to the game. Instead, he walked back to the Ginebra locker room where he received further treatment before getting taken to the hospital. In all, Brownlee played 25 heroic minutes and scored 14 points but in a losing effort.
Now, the defending champions face the prospect of a do-or-die Game 6 with Brownlee coming off sick bay—and potentially in no condition to carry the fight for a suddenly reeling Ginebra squad.
Game 6 is on Friday, also at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.