Brownlee earns OQT All-Star honors

MANILA, Philippines — Gilas Pilipinas ace Justin Brownlee earned a spot in the “All Star 5” of the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Riga, Latvia for his stellar play in the five-day competition.

Brownlee, who averaged 23 points, 8.3 rebounds and 6.3 assists over three matches with a performance efficiency valuation of 27.0, joined Bruno Caboclo and Leo Meindl of winner and Paris Olympics qualifier Brazil, Rihards Lomazs of runner-up and host Latvia and Jeremiah Hill of Cameroon in the elite roster.

Caboclo was adjudged MVP of the tournament. A seven-year NBA veteran who currently plays for Partizan in Serbia, Caboclo banged in 21 in Brazil’s 94-69 romp over Latvia in the finale after his earlier 15-11 double-double in the South Americans’ 71-60 dispatching of Gilas Pilipinas in the semis.

It was a “World, meet Justin Brownlee” stint in Riga for the 6-foot-5 Gilas star.

Brownlee produced a near triple double of 26-9-9 to key Gilas’ historic 89-80 upset of world No. 6 Latvia at the start of Group A action. He followed it up with a 28-8-8 statsline in a fighting 96-94 loss to No. 23 Georgia as the Nationals secured a ticket to the semis. He had 15 in the semis loss to the No. 12 Brazilians.

“The forward was absolutely epic in the competition and so much so that he was heralded at one point as the ‘Michael Jordan of the Philippines’ by teammate Kai Sotto,” the FIBA said in describing Brownlee.

“Brownlee was such a beast in every way on the floor and was the inspiring factor for Gilas Pilipinas as they rode to the semifinals after stunning Latvia in the Group Phase.”