Filipino Basketball Star Justin Brownlee Leads Team to Gold Medal Victory in Asian Games
Hangzhou, China – In a thrilling gold medal match between the Philippines and Jordan at the Asian Games, it was Justin Brownlee who emerged as a shining star despite being outscored by his counterpart Rondae Jefferson-Hollis. The match took place on Friday, October 6, at the Hangzhou Olympic Gymnasium, leaving the partisan home fans disappointed with the result.
Although Brownlee tallied only 20 points, a far cry from his average of 33 points in the team’s crucial wins over Iran and China, it proved to be enough to inspire his teammates. Chris Newsome and Ange Kouame stepped up to provide the needed firepower, finally ending the Philippines’ long and agonizing wait to regain the Asian glory that was last savored in 1962. The final score was 70-60 in favor of the Nationals.
Jefferson-Hollis, on the other hand, scored 24 points and grabbed 12 rebounds. However, he struggled in the first 10 minutes of play, missing all but one of nine attempts from the field. He made a strong comeback in the second frame, highlighted by two triples that helped the Jordanians erase a 13-point deficit and tie the game at 31-all at halftime.
The third quarter proved to be the turning point as Brownlee sparked a mini run, helping Gilas regain the lead for good. Despite his outstanding performance, Brownlee remained humble and credited the entire team for their efforts. “Everybody did their share, everybody worked hard for this victory,” he said. The American-born player was granted Filipino citizenship on January 12 this year after President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos signed House Bill No. 6224.
One of the happiest individuals for Brownlee’s phenomenal contribution to the country’s return as Asia’s premier basketball nation was Representative Mikee Romero. As the initiator of the naturalization process for Brownlee, Romero expressed his delight and stated, “In my almost 9 years of being in the House of Representatives, I have created 75 Republic Acts, but helping Justin Brownlee become a Filipino is one of the highlights of my legislative career.” Romero further shared his hopes of honoring Brownlee once again, saying, “It’s not easy, but we’ll try.”
The victory not only secured the Philippines’ gold medal in the Asian Games but also brought immense pride and joy to Filipino basketball fans nationwide. Brownlee’s outstanding performance and selfless attitude have cemented his place in Philippine basketball history.
