Justin Brownlee said that it was fun playing against Bobby Ray Parks, Jr. when they crossed paths on Wednesday night, as the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel started their PBA Commissioner’s Cup title defense bid versus the Blackwater Elite.
Brownlee and Parks, Jr. faced each other for the first time ever.
The duo are well-known as teammates with San Miguel Alab Pilipinas in the ASEAN Basketball League back in 2018, and even enjoyed a title together.
“It was fun,” said the three-time PBA champion. “Me and him got a relationship like we’re friends and brothers so it’s a bit… Not weird, but we kinda got into the competitive mode and set aside that brotherhood and friendship.”
Brownlee and Parks, Jr. guarded each other in the game, but the latter got the best of the 26-year-old. Parks, Jr. produced 44 points on a 60-percent shooting clip along with 10 rebounds, seven assists, and a block.
“I wanted the assignment to guard Justin. I love challenges. All you can do with him is just contest his shots because he’s gonna make them. But he was eighteen-of-thirty, what can you do?” said Parks, Jr. with a grin.
“Every missed shot looked great… Like it was going in! Justin is just a great player. That’s why Ginebra has him.”
However, the grizzled rookie got the last laugh.
Parks Jr. finished with 28 points, including 10 in the extra period, to power his Blackwater to a thrilling 108-107 victory over the crowd darlings for a 2-0 start into the conference.
Though the defeat stung, Brownlee was hardly surprised that Parks, Jr. came up clutch. And now, he expects nothing but big things for the only three-time ABL Local Most Valuable Player in this journey of his in the Filipino pro league.
“I think that’s why – if I’m not mistaken – three-time MVP. I’ve seen him do it for the past three years in Alab even before I got there. I was keeping up with him and he was doing great,” said the reigning Commissioner’s Cup Best Import.
“I definitely expect big things for him in this league too.”
