Meralco just got the jolt it needed.
Justin Brownlee finally suited up for the Bolts after weeks of anticipation, practicing with the team for the first time on Wednesday ahead of their EASL Home and Away Season 3 clash against the Macau Black Bears this weekend in Ilagan City, Isabela.
The 37-year-old former Barangay Ginebra import—long a nightmare for Meralco in past PBA Finals—was greeted with warm smiles and encouraging energy as he joined a two-hour scrimmage at the Upper Deck Sports Center in Ortigas.
“I really have high respect for all of these guys,” Brownlee said, reflecting on years of hard-fought battles against the Bolts. “It feels good to finally play with them.”
His arrival couldn’t have been timed better. Meralco is riding a two-game surge after impressive wins over Group B leader Taoyuan Pauian Pilots and the Macau Black Bears, pulling their record to 2-2 and climbing to second place behind the 2-1 Pilots.
Brownlee now forms a powerhouse duo with fellow PBA Best Import awardee Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, creating one of the most intriguing import tandems in the tournament. They’ll anchor a Meralco unit further bolstered by the rugged interior presence of Ismael Romero and the high-energy play of Iranian Asian import Sina Vahedi.
Brownlee had missed the Bolts’ first four games as he recovered from an illness that sidelined him for over a month in the United States. He was originally slated to join Gilas in the upcoming Southeast Asian Games in Thailand but was barred due to the host nation’s rule against naturalized players.
He rejoined Meralco fresh off a strong stint with Gilas Pilipinas in the FIBA World Cup Qualifiers, where the Philippines swept its two-game series against Guam.
Now healthy and finally in uniform, Brownlee’s entry signals a new—and potentially explosive—chapter for the Bolts.