Justin Brownlee poised to become winningest PBA import

MANILA, Philippines—Justin Brownlee’s perfect batting average when it comes to playing in the PBA Finals put him in a tie with another player from coach Tim Cone’s past, with plenty of chances to become the winningest import in PBA history.

His sixth championship which came by virtue of Barangay Ginebra’s conquest of the recent Commissioner’s Cup allowed Brownlee to equal Sean Chambers, who was a major fixture on many Alaska squads that ruled the league in 1990s.

“We have talked briefly,” Brownlee said when asked if he had a chance to talk with Chambers during some of the latter’s recent visits to the country.

“We really didn’t have any conversation. [But] I wish I could, maybe talk something about his experiences he had here in the PBA, playing for Coach Tim, I think it would be great to hear that.

“But just to be mentioned with a great import like him, Norman Black, The Black Superman [Billy Ray Bates] who I can look up to and idolize, it surely is an honor,” he added.

Chambers accounted for almost a quarter of Cone’s record 25 PBA championships, leading Alaska to glory in the 1991 Third Conference, 1996 Commissioner’s Cup and the Governors’ Cup from 1994 to 1997.

Brownlee equaled that feat also in a six-year period, with Ginebra ruling the Governors’ Cup from 2016 to 2017, 2019 and 2022 and the Commissioner’s Cup in 2018 and the aforementioned win this season at the expense of guest team Bay Area Dragons.

And with the way he performed against the Dragons, it seems Brownlee is poised to win more trophies that would separate him from Chambers.

He will be back for the Governors’ Cup where Ginebra is attempting to win the third conference for the third consecutive time and five out of the last six editions.

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