Brownlee open to another EASL stint for Meralco

MANILA, Philippines, February 18 ------ Gilas Pilipinas, Barangay Ginebra and now Meralco. Resident player Justin Brownlee has found a new home in Meralco, saying he will grant a request to play and represent once again for the PBA and the country any given time after a short-lived but meaningful time together in the East Asia Super League (EASL). “I really enjoyed the EASL and I definitely would go and play for Meralco again,” said the 37-year-old American-Filipino as the Bolts exited EASL Season 3.

Brownlee, a resident import for Ginebra in the PBA for the PBA since 2016 and serving as Gilas naturalized player since 2023, finished with 12 points, four rebounds, six assists, two blocks and a steal as an on-loan import in Meralco’s 88-79 loss to the visiting Ryukyu at the Smart Araneta Coliseum last tuesday night. Meralco, in dire need of a win by at least six points to advance, finished the season at 3-3 in Group B as Ryukyu (5-1) and the Taoyuan Pilots (4-2) booked the coveted playoff tickets. The Bolts’ exit left the PBA without an EASL playoff seat for now three seasons and counting.

It proved to be the second and last game in Meralco jersey for Brownlee after registering 12 points, 10 rebounds and six assists in a 93-91 win over Macau last December in Isabela. In that match, Brownlee teamed up with PBA rival Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, a three-time Best Import and champion also on loan from TNT whom he has not beat yet, for a super tandem. But the latter went down with a season-ending Achilles tear injury. “That was very unfortunate. You know, and Rondae, obviously, is a very special player. You know, just like myself and the rest of the guys, we would love for him to be here,” added Brownlee, whose Meralco stint was delayed due to a battle with pneumonia during the PBA offseason and FIBA break. “What he was doing with the team before I got here and while I was on the team, he was very special. You could just see the rhythm he had with the team was only getting better. So, yeah, that was very unfortunate.”

Brownlee’s partnership with Hollis-Jefferson and the Bolts for now can wait as the beloved Ginebra import now looks forward to reuniting with the Gin Kings and the Nationals. The hotshot reinforcement will celebrate a decade of being Ginebra’s resident import come the PBA Season 50 Commissioner’s Cup on March 11 after the PBA All-Star Weekend on March 6-8 in Candon City, Ilocos Sur.

Before that, Brownlee will have a tall order on the road with Gilas against Oceania powerhouses Australia and New Zealand in the second window of the 2027 FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers on February 28-1. And he’s ready now more than ever to etch history once again, especially with an expected solid support from overseas Filipinos for Gilas and the ever-faithful Barangay for the crowd darling Gin Kings. “Man, I've been saying it for some time now. The Philippines, especially when it comes to basketball, have the best fans in the world. You know, seeing their passion, the way they love, you know, all the teams get support here,” added Brownlee, also showered by the same Filipino support with Meralco. “And I just try my hardest to try to give it back on the court. You know, trying to play with passion, and just try to give them some entertainment and a good showing. So for Filipino fans, I will always have a special place in my heart for the fans here.”

Source: philstar.com