Brownlee goat — Cone

MANILA, Philippines — Ilang minuto matapos pagharian ang Season 50 PBA Commissioner’s Cup ay tinawag ni Barangay Ginebra head coach Tim Cone si resident import Justin Brownlee ng GOAT o Greatest Of All Time.

Sa likod ni Brownlee ay tinalo ng Gin Kings ang karibal na TNT Topang 5G, 88-76, sa ‘winner-take-all’ Game Seven noong Miyerkules.

“I don’t think there’s any doubt. In my mind, he is the GOAT,” sabi ng 68-anyos na si Cone sa 38-anyos na si Brownlee na nakamit ang pang-pitong PBA title bilang import. “It’s hard to argue against seven championships.”

Inungusan ni Brownlee si Alaska reinforcement Sean Chambers na may anim na kampeonato.

“It’s hard to argue with the numbers he’s putting up, especially in this era where players are bigger and stronger. Imports can’t dominate like they used to, and the defense has become more sophisticated,” dagdag ng 26-time PBA champion coach.

Tinapos ng Ginebra sa 4-3 ang kanilang best-of-seven championship series ng TNT para makamit ang ika-16 titulo.

Humakot si Brownlee ng 30 points, 14 rebounds at 5 assists para tapusin ng Gin Kings ang tatlong taon na pagkauhaw sa korona at tatlong sunod na kabiguan sa Tropang 5G sa PBA Finals.

Sa kanyang unang pag­lalaro sa PBA noong 2016 ay kaagad binigyan ni Brownlee ng kampeonato ang Ginebra.

“If you told me 10 years ago that I’d still be playing, and for a championship, I probably would not believe you,” wika ni Brownlee.

“But I’ve been blessed to play for a great team and great coaches.”

Nauna nang kumamada ang Gilas Pilipinas naturalized player ng 50-point performances sa Games Five at Six.

“As an import in this league, there are times when you need to take over a game,” wika ng four-time PBA Best Import. “I think there is a balance where sometimes I try to get other guys involved. But there were moments when I felt like I needed to be what an import is.”

Posibleng si Brownlee rin ang import ng Ginebra sa darating na Season 50 PBA Governor’s Cup na idedepensa rin ng TNT.

Samantala, matapos ang paghahari sa Season 50 PBA Commissioner’s Cup ay kaagad tututukan nina Brownlee at Cone ang pagsabak ng Gilas Pilipinas sa FIBA World Cup Asian qualifiers.

Lalabanan ng Nationals ang New Zealand sa Auckland sa Hulyo 3 kasunod ang Australia sa Hulyo 6 sa Perth.