Even though he did not win a championship with Meralco, Allen Durham definitely had a legendary PBA career.
Ginebra resident import Justin Brownlee is tipping his hat off to playoff rival Allen Durham as the latter wrapped up his storied PBA career.
Brownlee could only say kind words for the Meralco reinforcement, with whom he forged a thrilling playoff rivalry which began in the 2016 Governors’ Cup.
“He’s been an incredible player, a great player in the Philippines and all of Asia,” Brownlee said of Durham on Wednesday, October 30.
[RELATED: Three-time PBA Best Import Allen Durham retires, 'will always be part of Bolts family’]
The naturalized Filipino first carved his name into the Ginebra lore when he made the go-ahead three-pointer in the face of Durham to give the Gin Kings their first title in eight years.
The two would face each other in the Governors’ Cup two more times, with Brownlee prevailing each time.
Durham, though, snagged the Best Import plum in those three conferences where they duked it out in the Last Dance.
Then he headed to the Japan B.League where he won the 2023 title with the Ryukyu Golden Kings on top of the Finals Most Valuable Player award.
Before The Hulk called it quits, he suited up one more time for the Bolts but ended up getting swept by, incidentally, Brownlee and GInebra in the quarterfinals.
[RELATED: PBA: Reliving the Ginebra-Meralco rivalry, playoff edition]
“It was always a fun battle going against him. I appreciate the player you are and more importantly, the person,” said Brownlee.
While the rivalry favored only Brownlee, the Hulk definitely had a legendary career with Meralco.