In the postgame presser following Gilas Pilipinas’ 95-88 escape act versus Saudi Arabia, a foreign reporter asked Justin Brownlee whether he has the clutch gene or developed it through the years. The question, obviously, was in reference to JB’s late-game shot-making—including that triple that sent what appeared to be a won game for the Saudis into extra time.
Humbly, sheepishly, Brownlee said it was neither the clutch gene nor something he developed. Instead, it is all about seizing the moment—and JB sure did seize it against Saudi Arabia on Tuesday morning to help the Philippines advance to the quarterfinals of the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup.
“These are the moments every player dreams of, when the game is tight coming down wire to wire and the atmosphere that Saudi had today… I can’t really say it’s clutch genes or something I developed. I just think that when you see the opportunity as a player, you just gotta go after it,” Brownlee said.
The Magic Isn’t Always On
Of course, even the great Justin Brownlee doesn’t always make the big shot. Yes, he’s missed some in his illustrious career, both for Barangay Ginebra San Miguel and for Gilas Pilipinas. But that’s just the way it is, according to the artist sometimes known as Magic Brownlee. Make or miss, just go seize the moment.
“It doesn’t always work in your favor,” he said. “Obviously, you can’t make every shot or make the best out of every moment, but you just gotta have courage and take those opportunities. I’m just very blessed to be in the opportunity to be able to hit those shots.”
Justin Brownlee Has a Lifetime of Those Moments
But, as Gilas Pilipinas coach Tim Cone said in the same presser, those who know the history of Justin Brownlee can attest to the fact that he rises to the occasion more often than not.
“If you know his history, that’s not unusual. He’s been hitting big shots. I’m his coach in his club team [Ginebra in the PBA], and we played in the Asian Games, he hit big shots all the time,” Cone pointed out. “So, this is nothing foreign to Justin.”
Cone wasn’t lying. Justin Brownlee has crafted his legend making big shot after big shot starting with his title-clinching buzzer-beater in 2016 against the Meralco Bolts, to the back-to-back dagger treys he hit against China in the semifinals of the Hangzhou Asian Games in 2023, to the dagger four-point play he converted against Latvia in 2024.
Only recently, Brownlee sent Game 7 of the Commissioner’s Cup Finals to overtime with—you guessed it—a deep ball, this time over the outstretched arms of TNT Tropang 5G guard Paul Varilla. The outcome didn’t go Ginebra’s way in OT, but JB’s clutch trey was yet another reminder of his greatness when the game is on the line.
He reminded everyone again of that greatness on Tuesday morning—and it led to a huge win this time around. Justin Brownlee, needless to say, is as clutch as they come. But don’t tell him he’s got the clutch gene or has developed one.
Kabayan will be the first to tell you, he’s just seizing the moment.
