JUSTIN Brownlee and the rest of the Nationals’ fate was hanging in the balance at press time last night.
Much like his exploits in Gilas Pilipinas’ riveting 95-88 overtime victory over host Saudi Arabia last Tuesday, the Philippine five’s naturalized star relished thriving in the biggest of moments.
“As a player, you know, these are the games you dream about and you really look forward to playing. When the game is tight, coming down the wire and the atmosphere, I can’t really say it’s clutch genes or something that I developed,” Brownlee said of his dagger of a three-pointer that forced OT. “I just think when you see the opportunity as a player, you just got to go after it.
“It doesn’t always work in your favor. Obviously, you can’t make every shot or make the best out of every moment. But you just got to have courage and take those opportunities,” he added.
The 6-foot-5 Brownlee hoped the matches he had dreamed about would not end at the hands of No. 1 seed and reigning two-time champion Australia in their quarterfinal duel in the FIBA Asia Cup.
The winner of the clash—the first time Gilas and the Boomers tangled after the infamous brawl in a qualifier seven years ago at the Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan—clinched a semifinals slot opposite the victor between Chinese Taipei and Iran in the other pairing of the Last Eight.
The rest of the combatants in the quarterfinals include the match-up pitting China against South Korea and New Zealand against Lebanon.
“I’m just very blessed to be in the opportunity to be able to, you know, hit those shots,” he said.
“But I got to thank my teammates. They got a lot of confidence in me and they give me, they inspire me to go do those and make those shots.”
The Filipino cagers last ruled the prestigious continental tilt formerly known as the ABC Championship and FIBA Asia Championship 40 years ago, or in 1985.
Gilas coach Tim Cone said they intend to win it all before they embarked on the Mission at the Red Sea—and whether his charges fulfill their goal, they will stay as national heroes.
