Justin Brownlee shifts focus to Gilas Pilipinas after Meralco’s EASL exit

The Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) team Meralco Bolts saw their East Asia Super League (EASL) campaign come to another disappointing end after absorbing an 88-79 defeat to the Ryukyu Golden Kings in a virtual knockout match at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Wednesday, February 11.

With a playoff berth on the line, the Bolts entered the contest needing a win to keep their Final Four hopes alive. Instead, they struggled to keep pace with the disciplined and well-balanced Golden Kings, who executed down the stretch to silence the home crowd and secure their spot in the next round.

The loss marked the third consecutive season that Meralco has fallen short of the EASL playoffs. The Bolts finished the elimination round third in Group B with a 3-3 win-loss record, trailing the Taoyuan Pauian Pilots and the Golden Kings in the standings. Despite flashes of promise throughout the tournament, Meralco once again found themselves just outside the cutoff line.

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At the center of Meralco’s campaign was veteran forward Justin Brownlee, long regarded as the team’s stabilizing force in high-stakes games. However, the 37-year-old endured an uncharacteristically difficult outing against Ryukyu’s swarming defensive schemes.

The Golden Kings focused on limiting Brownlee’s touches and forced him into contested attempts, disrupting the offensive flow that typically runs through him. Without his usual scoring efficiency, Meralco struggled to generate consistent half-court offense.

Still, Brownlee reflected on his stint with the Bolts with gratitude rather than frustration.

Justin Brownlee shared his happiness about playing for the Meralco Bolts in the EASL. He also mentioned that he’s open to representing another PBA team in the league, emphasizing that he always takes pride in playing for the Philippines. | via Aivan Episcope/One Sports pic.twitter.com/OF0sUT4gVx

— One Sports (@OneSportsPHL) February 12, 2026

“I definitely enjoyed my time here with Meralco. They welcome me with open arms. Everybody was just so positive — from the coaches, the bosses, to my teammates. It was special,” Brownlee said in a media interaction after the game.

He also highlighted the camaraderie within the squad, noting the opportunity to share the court with high-level talent.

“We got a chance to play with Rondae Hollis-Jefferson. Unfortunately, he got injured. Ismael Romero, Iran star Sina Vahedi — just the whole team. It was very fun to play with the guys. It’s always great to represent the Philippines,” he added.

With Meralco’s EASL journey officially over, Brownlee now turns his attention to international competition. He is set to rejoin as the national team prepares for the second window of the FIBA World Cup qualifiers later this month.

The Philippines face a daunting challenge with matchups against regional heavyweights Australia and New Zealand — two programs widely regarded among the strongest in the Asia-Pacific zone.

“It’s definitely going to be tough. New Zealand and Australia are obviously two of the toughest teams in Asia. I’m really looking forward to the challenge. Hopefully, we can play better than the last time we did against both of them. Hopefully, we can get a win or maybe even two,” Brownlee said.

For Brownlee, the quick turnaround from club disappointment to national duty presents both a challenge and an opportunity — a chance to channel the lessons from Meralco’s near miss into a renewed push on the international stage.

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