ROUND 4 of the Justin Brownlee versus Allen Durham PBA rivalry is up.
After facing off in three hard-fought title series in the 2016, 2017 and 2019 Governors' Cup, Ginebra's resident import Brownlee and Meralco's balik-import Durham are set for long-awaited duel, this time in the Season 49 Governors' Cup best of five quarterfinal series.
"It's going to be a fun matchup, very competitive and a little bit of a rivalry throughout history," Brownlee said of the upcoming duel with Durham, who beat him for Best Import honors thrice but got the last laugh with a hat trick of crowns for the Gin Kings.
"Me and Allen, we're older now so you know that's the big difference. He's been playing great this conference. Obviously, they've been having some success; they're No. 2 (in Group A). He's going to be great, we know that."
The latest chapter in the Ginebra-Meralco rivalry was forged when the Gin Kings finished third in Group B with 6-4 following a 99-103 overtime loss to NLEX Sunday night. The Bolts carded 7-3 for the second seed in their bracket and a date with the B-3 in the crossover Last-8.
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"Everybody knows we have a history. They're (Meralco) a tough team and they've obviously gotten better and they're a champion team now. We know they're gonna be tough defensively like always, " said "JB."
"With Durham as import, he always elevates their game so we know they're gonna be ready. Hopefully we'll get ourselves ready for those guys. And you know, coach Tim (Cone) will have a great game plan ready."
Although it's 3-0 in favor of Ginebra with both Brownlee and Durham on board, Meralco has broken out with series victories in the 2022 Philippine Cup quarterfinals (2-1) and the recent All-Filipino semis (4-3) on its way to a maiden championship.
"This Meralco team has changed a lot; Ginebra has changed a lot as well," said Brownlee.
"But I think the mentality's going to be the same. For us, it's going to be the NSD-type attitude and just trying to do everything to win. I think it's definitely gonna be a defensive series. Whichever team can come up with the best defensive schemes or whoever can play defense the best will come up on top. Hopefully we can lock down on defense and be on point." (OL)
