Ex-Gin Kings import Justin Brownlee reinforces Mighty Sports in Dubai tourney

THE image of Justin Brownlee hitting the game-winning buzzer beating three-pointer remains fresh in the minds of solid Barangay Ginebra fans who are awaiting the return of the former Gin Kings reinforcement for the season-ending tournament.

But for now, Mr. Brownlee will have to play for another local club, Mighty Sports, which will represent the Philippines in the Dubai International Tournament.

The Dubai International Tournament, which begins on Feb. 18,

The Dubai tournament was usually participated by our national teams in the past.

Mighty Sports, which won the gold medal in the William Jones Cup last year, has decided to tap the cool and calculating shooter, who played the hero’s role in Barangay Ginebra’s title-clinching Game 6 victory in the PBA Governors’ Cup against the Meralco Bolts last season.

Sheryl Reyes, who represents Mr. Brownlee in the Philippines, confirmed the news.

“Justin Brownlee is very happy that he was selected to be part of the team. He can’t wait to play in the Philippines again,” wrote Ms. Reyes in an exclusive online interview with BusinessWorld.

The 6- foot- 5 Brownlee will join forces with NBA veteran Hasheem Thabeet, the second overall pick in the 2009 NBA Rookie Draft, as Mighty Sports’ reinforcements in the Dubai tournament.

“Hasheem is very excited to come. This is his first international job outside of the NBA. He wants the extra time to get acclimated to the different time, weather conditions and long flight to Manila. He is ready to go to work,” added Ms. Reyes.

Mr. Thabeet is expected to arrive on Feb. 3 to train with Mighty Sports early while Mr. Brownlee will plane in three days later.

Mighty Sports burst onto the local cage scene last year when it played in local tournaments, the most significant one was the Pilipinas Commercial Basketball League, where the team enlisted Kiefer Ravena and Kevin Ferrer, two standouts of the Gilas Cadet program, to be part of its squad that made it to the championship round.

The team continued its active participation and last year, the organizers of the William Jones Cup Tournament extended its invitation on the team owned by Ceasar Wongchuking to field in a crack squad.

Mighty Sports brought in seven reinforcements to beef the team to the Jones Cup bannered by former PBA imports Al Thornton, Mike Singletary, Hamady N’Diaye, Vernon Macklin and Zach Graham and South Korean Basketball League reinforcements Dewarick Spencer and Troy Gillenwater and the team swept the tournament.

Coaching Mighty Sports this time is Charles Tiu.