For the better part of the last decade, Justin Brownlee has carved quite the career in Philippine basketball.
His championship exploits with Brgy. Ginebra made him a cult legend, and his super-human efforts with Gilas Pilipinas turned him into a beloved local hero.
However, Justin Brownlee’s story in Philippine basketball will never be complete without the mention of one Allen Durham, a fellow super import who made just as many memories with his own PBA team that’s become home.
In the PBA Season 49 Governors’ Cup, both Brownlee and Durham met in the PBA playoffs for the fourth time.
[Related: Brownlee-Durham IV set as Ginebra, Meralco renew rivalry in PBA Governors’ Cup playoffs]
But just like their last meeting five years ago, or their first meeting eight years prior, it was Brownlee’s Gin Kings that emerged the victor.
Sorry, not sorry
As it stands, Justin Brownlee has a 4-0 playoff head-to-head record in the PBA over Allen Durham.
[Related: Ginebra completes clean sweep of Meralco to enter PBA Governors' Cup semis]
With Brownlee at the helm, the Gin Kings have beaten Durham’s Meralco Bolts in the 2016, 2017, and 2019 Governors’ Cup Finals, as well as this season’s Governors’ Cup quarterfinals.
Ginebra, with Brownlee as import, has won six straight playoff games against the Bolts.
While the Bolts have managed to break through against the Gin Kings in the playoffs, the Brownlee-Durham subchapter of the Ginebra-Meralco rivalry is quite one sided.
“I can’t say I feel bad, because we’re competitors and that comes with the game,” Brownlee said on ‘feeling’ for Durham, who has been on the receiving end of painful playoff losses.
“But I would say his effort is definitely not a losing effort.”
[Related: Justin Brownlee gives credit to rival Meralco: 'They’re a nightmare for us, to be honest’]
Durham essentially echoes the same sentiment. While the faint of heart would break at the amount of close calls Meralco has endured at the hands of Ginebra, AD is not of faint of heart.
In competition, one has to lose, and Durham has acknowledged that fact.
“In every series that we play, we had an opportunity to win. You can go down the line and say what if this happened or what if that happened, but you can do that with everything,” Durham said.
“He’s a great player, if you’re a good player you wanna play against the best to see how you measure and stuff like that. Playing against JB, it’s always good competition and a competitive battle.”
Try, try, try, try, and maybe try again?
Any time and any place, Ginebra vs. Meralco featuring Justin Brownlee and Allen Durham will always be a box office hit.
While their latest encounter ended in a quick 3-0 sweep, the short first round series was not short of great moments.
For Brownlee, just because they’re winning doesn’t mean it’s been easy.
“Allen has been tough, I’ve been saying it for years. He’s a nightmare matchup probably for anybody in this conference,” Brownlee said.
“He [Durham] gave us trouble the three games, I give him a lot of credit. Every time he’s here with Meralco, they always do good things if not great.”
As Brownlee gets to continue a new quest for a PBA title at the expense of his rival, the Ginebra star believes it’s only a matter of time for Durham to achieve his own success in the PBA.
Hopefully, just not at his expense.
“If he keeps doing what he’s doing, I think at some point he’s going to just break through and be successful in this league, win a championship. Hopefully, it’s not against Ginebra,” Brownlee said of Durham.
“I’m sure he’s won a championship in Japan, he’s been there and knows what it takes. Obviously, he’s got the talent and skill.”
Last Dance?
Brownlee-Durham Part IV was five years in the making. In that time, a lot has changed.
Brownlee added Gilas Pilipinas to his duties, while Durham ventured to the B.LEAGUE and did win a championship with the Ryukyu Golden Kings.
Of course, in the time between Part III and Part IV of the Brownlee-Durham saga, both players also aged five years. Brownlee and Durham are now 36.
While both are still obviously great, their careers are closer to the end than the beginning and there’s a good chance that Brownlee-Durham Part IV is it.
JB hopes that’s not the case.
“I can see him coming back. I’m sure Meralco, or any team PBA, would love having him. Me and him are getting older, but I mean he’s showcasing what he can still do,” Brownlee said about the potential Part V to their enduring playoff battles.
Durham, for his part, is non-committal… for now.
“I honestly don’t know. I mean, I got two kids at home and they get to that age where they need their dad. I gotta talk to my family and see what happens.”
(With reports from Maureen Muarip/One Sports)