After PBA, Asian Video games exploits, Brownlee brings clutch act to Asia Cup

Justin Brownlee’s clutch shot in opposition to Saudi Arabia attracts comparisons to previous heroics, like when he led Gilas Pilipinas to an Asian Video games gold medal, and Barangay Ginebra to a drought-ending PBA crown

MANILA, Philippines – Justin Brownlee is aware of no bounds in relation to hitting clutch photographs.

And the FIBA Asia Cup isn’t any exception as Brownlee catapulted Gilas Pilipinas to the quarterfinals following a stellar efficiency in a 95-88 time beyond regulation win over host Saudi Arabia on Monday, August 11 (Tuesday, August 12, Manila time).

Brownlee completed with a team-high 29 factors on 11-of-16 taking pictures from the sector, together with a booming three-pointer with 3.7 seconds left in regulation that pressured an additional interval.

It was a shot that drew comparisons to previous heroics, like when Brownlee led the Philippines to a historic gold medal within the 2023 Asian Video games, and when he helped Barangay Ginebra finish its title drought within the PBA practically a decade in the past.

Brownlee has accomplished it so many instances that he not surprises head coach Tim Cone.

“If you recognize his historical past, that’s commonplace. He’s been hitting massive photographs. I’m his coach in his membership group, and after we performed within the Asian Video games, he was hitting massive photographs on a regular basis,” mentioned Cone.

“So that is nothing overseas to Justin — hitting that massive shot.”

Brownlee has been reliable within the endgame since he began his profession within the Philippines in 2016.

Coming in as a substitute import, Brownlee labored his approach to PBA lore when he sank the game-winning three-pointer in Sport 6 of the 2016 Governors’ Cup finals as Ginebra beat Meralco to seize its first crown in eight years.

Brownlee has since guided Ginebra to 6 championships, placing him in a report tie with Sean Chambers for many PBA titles gained by an import.

Within the earlier Asian Video games, Brownlee additionally saved the day for the Filipinos as he poured 17 of his 33 factors within the fourth quarter of a come-from-behind 77-76 win over China within the semifinals.

Brownlee went 5-of-5 from lengthy vary within the fourth quarter of that heart-stopping match, sinking two inside the ultimate minute, together with the game-winning triple, to ship the Philippines to the finals, the place it toppled Jordan for its first Asian Video games gold in six a long time.

So when the Philippines wanted a miracle in opposition to Saudi Arabia, Cone knew who to provide the ball to.

“We simply ran an outdated play for Justin that he’s acquainted with. We received the swap that we needed, received just a little, smaller man on him, and he was in a position to get a shot excessive,” mentioned Cone.

“It’s precisely the identical play we ran a number of years in the past to win a championship within the membership stage. He was acquainted with it and that type of spearheaded us ahead as soon as we received to the time beyond regulation.”

“The momentum on that shot, the emotion from that shot propelled us by means of the time beyond regulation.”

Gilas Pilipinas wants extra of these heroics from Brownlee because it tries to tug off the upset of the event when it battles two-time defending champion Australia within the quarterfinals on Wednesday, August 13, at 7 pm, Manila time. – Rappler.com