JEDDAH (Saudi Arabia) – Justin Brownlee’s shot wasn’t falling. The crowd favorite, usually a reliable scorer, misfired on nine of his 12 attempts from the field on Day 5 against Iraq. If there’s one thing the veteran has built his career on, however, it’s the idea that value goes far beyond the box score’s top line.
In a game they had to win to stay alive, Brownlee dug into every other part of his skill set. He snared 7 rebounds, dished 4 assists, swiped 3 steals and set the tone for the 'never say die' mindset coach Tim Cone loves to talk about.
"We just don’t quit. We just keep coming," Cone said, proud of a group that refused to let another slow start bury them. "Back home, we call it the 'never say die' attitude. We have that. I think that's very evident on this team. We hope that that will be the one that gets us forward."
That refusal to submit mattered. Iraq came out blazing from deep, seizing an early lead and testing the Filipinos' nerves. But Brownlee’s composure, paired with Dwight Ramos’ second-half scoring burst, kept the group together until the defense took over.
"Everybody came in ready and really stepped up in a major way on defense," Brownlee said.
For him, it’s all about knowing that even when his own shot isn’t there, someone else will pick up the slack. Against Iraq, that someone was Ramos, and Brownlee embraced the role of connector and motivator instead of headline scorer.
The win over Iraq was more than a number. It was a reassertion of belief after two stinging losses. Of course, Brownlee knows the grind doesn’t stop here.
"Just got to make sure we get some recovery. You know, this is our third game in five days. So, just got to make sure we recover," he said. "And whoever we’re playing, I’m sure we’ll know later on today or sometime this evening. But we just got to make sure we lock in on film and scouting. And I think we’ll be okay."
Sometimes leadership means hitting the big shots. Other times, it means making sure your team is ready for whatever comes next. Brownlee just happens to do both.
FIBA