PBA: Justin Brownlee allays injury fears ahead of Barangay Ginebra vs Rain or Shine semis

Justin Brownlee is confident that the injury he sustained in Barangay Ginebra's dominant quarterfinal win over Phoenix on Friday is nothing serious as the Gin Kings brace for what is expected to be a grueling semifinal showdown against Rain or Shine.

The resident import exited the game at the 7:45 mark of the third quarter with Barangay Ginebra comfortably ahead, 68-49. He received treatment from the team's physical therapists at the dugout before returning to the bench at the 9:19 mark of the fourth period, though he did not check back into the contest.

It turned out that he injured his hamstring while making a defensive stop on Jason Perkins.

Without Brownlee for most of the second half, the Gin Kings never took their foot off the pedal and cruised to a 112-81 victory to punch their semifinals ticket and set up a showdown with Rain or Shine.

"I just felt a little tweak on that drive to the rim. I just felt something. Hopefully, it ain’t too bad, but I just felt a little something in there. Good thing we were up big and I gotta give a lot of credit to the team," Brownlee told reporters after the game at the Ynares Center Antipolo.

"They closed out in the third and fourth and finished the game very well and extended the lead. I think I should be okay. Just a little tweak."

Brownlee now hopes to learn the full extent of the injury before the semifinals tip off on Wednesday, where they will face an inspired and hungry Rain or Shine side in a best-of-seven series.

"I just felt it in the game. It’s something new. It’s something I haven’t dealt with in the past. I just felt something in my hamstring and hopefully everything is okay. No pain, that’s the good thing," Brownlee added.

Brownlee's presence will be very important for Barangay Ginebra in the upcoming series, especially with Rain or Shine eager to reach the finals after four straight semifinal heartbreaks.

The last time Rain or Shine defeated Barangay Ginebra in the playoffs, the Elasto Painters went on to capture the championship. Rain or Shine ousted Barangay Ginebra in the quarterfinals of the 2016 Commissioner’s Cup before surviving San Miguel in the semifinals and eventually beating Alaska in the finals.

The two teams met again in the 2020 Philippine Cup quarterfinals, but this time, the Gin Kings came out on top and rode the momentum all the way to the title.

—JKC, GMA News