Justin Brownlee joined longtime PBA rivals Meralco Bolts and Rondae Hollis-Jefferson for his first-ever stint in the East Asia Super League.
Aside from his championships with Ginebra, Justin Brownlee’s PBA career can be defined by two distinct rivalries.
First is the enduring playoff battles with the Meralco Bolts, which started during his career-defining series in the 2016 PBA Governors’ Cup Finals.
Second and most recently is his budding personal rivalry with Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, with championship showdowns not just in the PBA but also in international basketball during the Asian Games.
And as Brownlee finally ventured in the East Asia Super League, his long-awaited debut ironically came with wearing a Meralco jersey and starting alongside RHJ himself.
While the Ginebra icon shot just 5/16 from the field for 12 points, he also had 10 rebounds and six assists to help the Bolts hold off the Macau Black Bears for a 93-91 win on Saturday.
It’s Meralco’s third straight win for a 3-2 record, setting themselves up to possibly get out of Group B and make the EASL playoffs.
Suiting up with his longtime rivals was quite the experience for Brownlee.
“Meralco has always been a tough team, always came and play hard,” he said.
“Playing with these guys is a definitely relief,” Brownlee added.
The EASL stint offered a unique opportunity for Brownlee to get insights on the team and player that helped shape his PBA tenure.
The unlikely team up likewise confirmed some things that he already knew about Meralco from their many battles in the past.
“It’s good to see how they practice, just how the chemistry is with the team,” Brownlee said.
“They have something special here, it’s been on this place since I came to the PBA. It’s a joy to be with the Bolts,” he added.
(With reports from Xander Cipriano)