Justin Brownlee would clearly prefer to play without any restrictions, but he’s starting to get the hang of playing with his right thumb all taped up.
The three-time Best Import once again played with it in Game 5 of the PBA Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup Finals on Sunday, as he made sure to continue competing even with a dislocated right thumb that requires surgery.
“I wouldn’t say comfortable, but I’m getting used to it,” he said. “It’s definitely not comfortable but I’m starting to get the hang of it and getting used to it.”
It is the solution applied by the Barangay Ginebra medical staff for now, with their goal to keep his injured thumb intact so he can play through it.
He started playing with tape on his hand back in Game 4 last Wednesday, and did the same for the crucial Game 5 at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
But unlike in their previous encounter, Brownlee struggled early in the game that he didn’t score until the final minute of the second quarter. To put it into perspective, he went 6-for-7 from the floor in just the first half last game.
Make no mistake about it, though. The reason was not because of the tape itself, but rather the inevitably tight defense of TNT against him in particular.
“TNT has done a great job defensively with their schemes, making it hard for me to pick my spots,” said the six-time league champion.
“So, I take my time. And when I get to a spot on the floor, they’re double teaming or hard pressure from the primary defender. It makes it tough.”
And to further prove that he’s getting used to playing with a taped thumb, Brownlee found his groove in the second half, and that spelled doom for the Tropang Giga as he nailed important shots come winning time.
‘JB’ joined hands with Scottie Thompson in the endgame, putting together the 12-2 finishing kick toward the 73-66 result to take the 3-2 series lead.
“I just have to keep sticking with the game and keep trusting the offense and just try to figure it out,” said the naturalized winger, who scored Ginebra’s last four points to slam the nail in the coffin and send their foes to a dangerous spot.
“And I think in the second half, I kind of figured a few spots out where I could score and I just tried to take advantage of that,” he continued.
Brownlee finished with 18 points and also collected 14 rebounds — 11 of which he collected in the first half — with five assists and a steal in 45 minutes.
Thanks to him, the Kings have moved a win away from clinching the conference crown, and they’re looking to get the job done in Game 6.
“I hope so. We’re definitely gonna come and try with all our might,” said Brownlee. “You know, TNT is a great team, and the past has shown that they beat us two times in the Finals so we know it’s not gonna be easy.
“The hardest game in my opinion, and in my experience, and even Coach Tim says it to the team all the time whenever we get a lead and in a close-out game: the hardest game in the series is the closeout game,” he closed.
And yes, Brownlee is going to play through the pain, with his thumb taped, again.
#WATCH: Despite a dislocated thumb, Justin Brownlee isn’t letting it affect his game 🏀
📹 @justinebacnis /Tiebreaker Times#PBA2025 pic.twitter.com/9srLZLHSAc
— Tiebreaker Times (@tiebreakertimes) March 23, 2025
