PBA: 8 years after iconic title clincher, 'Brownlee Magic' strikes again on Meralco

Justin Brownlee just knows how to beat Meralco in the clutch. PBA Images

By Ivan Saldajeno

MANILA--Justin Brownlee basically reminded Meralco--especially Allen Durham--what he did to them eight years ago.

For a recall, Brownlee scored a pull-up three against Durham's outstretched arms at the buzzer to hand Ginebra the 2016 PBA Governors' Cup championship, sparking an era when the league's crowd darlings have become title contenders.

On Saturday night, Brownlee's magic did the trick again, scoring on a stepback triple to lead the Gin Kings to another playoff win against the Bolts.

Brownlee's clutch shot capped a 39-point outburst in Game 2 of the 2024 Governors' Cup quarterfinals.

"Tonight, we jumped on the broad shoulders of Justin, and we've done that many times in the past," coach Tim Cone said after the Ginebra win.

"Tonight was Justin's night. It was amazing."

Brownlee, though, said that he was just repaying his teammates' trust in him during the endgame.

"Knowing that we needed a big basket or a score, my teammates always trusted in me. They were calling a play for me, so they wanted me to try to lead and take over the game, so that's what I try to do, the best way I can," Brownlee said.

The difference is that unlike in 2016 when he scored off a timeout, Brownlee had to manufacture the play on his own especially since in adherence with the FIBA rules, players cannot any more call a timeout on the coach's behalf to stop the clock.

"He did that pretty much on his own without a play. He just got the ball, we spread the floor for him, and he juked like he was going to drive and then stepped back and hit that three right in the outstretched hand of Durham right there," Cone further said.

It was actually a double whammy for Durham as Brownlee blocked his layup attempt first in the lead-up to the eventual game-winner, which like eight years ago happened with Durham guarding him.

"Brownlee did what Brownlee does," Durham simply said about Brownlee's shot.

Meralco actually had 10.1 seconds to map out a game-winner of its own, but Ginebra's defense, especially when Joe Devance provided a wall to Chris Newsome's driving path, disrupted the offensive flow.

"I think we should have maybe had a better play drawn up or should have got more spacing 'coz that area (the paint) was kind of congested over there so it kind of left me nowhere to go," Durham thought about the final play.

After a wild ending, the Gin Kings are now 2-0 up in their best-of-five quarterfinals with a chance to sweep the series on Monday night at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

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