Following a “surprising” sweep, Justin Brownlee had all praise for his longtime nemesis, Allen Durham.

In the Gin Kings’ 3-0 victory over Meralco, Brownlee averaged 30.3 points, something he didn’t anticipate given how formidable the Bolts have always been.

Brownlee said, “I can’t believe it to be honest,” “That’s a really good team. They are coming off a championship in the all-Filipino cup and they have, in my opinion, probably been playing the best. I know they took some losses but they are really good in the eliminations.

“We were very fortunate to be able to catch them. But I’m really surprised. I know Coach Tim said the same thing but it was a really good team. We are just happy but not satisfied yet in moving to the next round.”

Along with that, Brownlee honored his opponent and lifelong foe Allen Durham, who finished the series with an average of 31.3 points and 13.3 rebounds.

Brownlee proved to be a hindrance to Durham’s pursuit of a PBA championship once more following Barangay Ginebra’s three-point victory over Meralco in the Governors’ Cup finals. However, Brownlee believes Durham, a Japan B.League champion, would ultimately take home the PBA trophy despite the most recent Meralco setback.

Durham is anticipated to return to Meralco in the future by the import from Barangay Ginebra.

In their head-to-head meeting, the Kings are still the stronger team. Ginebra has previously beaten Meralco in four Governors’ Cup finals meetings, and has just accomplished a remarkable sweep of the reigning All-Filipino champions. 

This was in a sense the Kings’ retaliation against the Bolts, who had defeated their longtime foe 78-69 in their pivotal Game 7 of the Philippine Cup playoffs, which ultimately resulted in Meralco’s first-ever triumph in the history of the team.

Ten years after blowing up the town and suiting up for the Barako Bull, Durham was still searching for his first PBA championship following the Meralco setback. Having played for the Bolts in three finals appearances against Ginebra, this is the quickest exit for the former three-time Best Import in a Meralco outfit. 

Even more quickly than with the Bolts in the PBA, he won his first championship with the Ryukyu Golden Kings in the Japan B League. The 36-year-old import’s time with the Meralco club is coming to an end, as his future with the organization is now uncertain in the wake of their most recent loss.

On the other hand, the team, led by coach Tim Cone, is now awaiting the outcome of the San Miguel vs. Converge series.

After falling behind by as many as 27 points in Game 3, the FiberXers managed to escape being swept thanks to Alec Stockton’s crucial shot at the buzzer.