JEDDAH (Saudi Arabia) \u2013 Justin Brownlee\u2019s shot wasn\u2019t 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\u2019s one thing the veteran has built his career on, however, it\u2019s the idea that value goes far beyond the box score\u2019s top line.<\/p>\n
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. <\/p>\n
“We just don\u2019t 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.”<\/p>\n
That refusal to submit mattered. Iraq came out blazing from deep, seizing an early lead and testing the Filipinos’ nerves. But Brownlee\u2019s composure, paired with Dwight Ramos\u2019 second-half scoring burst, kept the group together until the defense took over. <\/p>\n
“Everybody came in ready and really stepped up in a major way on defense,” Brownlee said.<\/p>\n
For him, it\u2019s all about knowing that even when his own shot isn\u2019t 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.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Justin Brownlee (PHI)<\/p>\n
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\u2019t stop here. <\/p>\n
“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\u2019re playing, I\u2019m sure we\u2019ll 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\u2019ll be okay.”<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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