Barangay Ginebra hopes for the best after Justin Brownlee's injury scare

Barangay Ginebra is still hoping for the best for Justin Brownlee after the resident import sustained an apparent thumb injury in Game 3 of the PBA Commissioner's Cup Finals.

Brownlee sustained the injury at the 6:42 mark of the third period after he fell while chasing the ball. Eventually, he left the Philsports Arena while the game was ongoing to be brought to the hospital.

Justin Brownlee exited the Philsports Arena after an apparent dislocated right thumb which he got at around the 6:42 mark of the third period in Game 3 of the finals vs TNT @gmasportsph pic.twitter.com/XH3fj0EVJe

— JK Carandang (@jk_carandang) March 19, 2025

TNT defeated Barangay Ginebra, 87-85, to take a 2-1 lead in the series.

"So hinihintay lang natin kung anong sasabihin ng doctors. We're hoping for the best. Let's see," Barangay Ginebra assistant coach Richard del Rosario said.

"We'll probably have a clearer perspective tomorrow kung anong mangyayari."

"If it's dislocated, then hopefully we can find [a treatment]. Sana walang bali, but again, it's hard to speculate now kasi wala pa talagang [sinasabi], kakapunta pa lang niya sa hospital," he added.

While Del Rosario admitted that things might be tougher if Brownlee will sit out at least Game 5 on Friday, he said the team will still find ways to fight even without the reinforcement.

"Si Justin, he provides a lot of stuff for us. Not only on offense but in defense. Part of our system revolves around Justin," the Ginebra deputy said.

"We had a taste of playing without him here in the second half. But again it's going to be tougher because Talk N' Text will also adjust. But we don't know if Justin is going to play on [Friday] or not. We're still hoping that he can play. Warrior naman si Justin. Basta kaya niya, kung konting sakit lang, maglalaro 'yan. So we're just waiting and hoping we'll get good news."

RJ Abarrientos echoed Del Rosario's statement.

"Kailangan naming harapin 'to, we're still in the finals kahit locals kami na matitira rito against a team like TNT. Wala talaga, kailangan namin ito tapusin kung anong puwede maging adjustment or hopefully, sana makabalik siya," Abarrientos said.

—GMA Integrated News