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Taylor Browne set a new career high with 14 points in the Converge guard’s first professional game in Antipolo.
Browne had his best game since being picked in the second round (16th overall) of the PBA draft last year by Alaska. During the 2021 Philippine Cup, the University of British Columbia product only played four games, and he didn’t play a single match for Alaska in the Governors’ Cup last season.
[See Cariaso hopes the PBA eliminates the five-player limit for foreign players per team]
Despite Converge’s 90 to 74 loss against Meralco on Thursday, Browne feels he has proven his worth.
“I’m just staying ready,” Browne, who stands 6-foot-2, stated. “I don’t have too much experience yet in the PBA. But it is slowly coming. Coach Jeff [Cariaso] talks to me a lot about just staying ready, putting the work in, and just being confident, knowing that when I get in there, I have to be ready and provide. That’s what it felt like today.”
Browne, 25, said that he struggled during his rookie season with the Aces, where he received minimal playing time.
“It’s definitely difficult for any player not playing. But I know that this is my first time here. I’m just having to adjust. I’m just being patient. I made sure that I stayed patient and let it come to me. It will naturally come with the hard work,” Browne stated.
Browne’s performance took Meralco coach Norman Black off guard, despite the fact that the Bolts are aware of his three-point shooting talent.
His perseverance paid off when he was granted more playing time, resulting in a performance that even surprised Meralco.
“We always knew he could shoot. I think everybody saw his videos before he got drafted where he was making three-point shot after three-point shot. Always wondered why he wasn’t playing more but at the same time, that’s not really my concern,” he added.
“But tonight, he surprised us by making those three-pointers. He made some of them in transition where we couldn’t catch up with him. We couldn’t get close enough to him. But obviously, he is a really good shooter and looks like he has a future in the league,” Black said.
Even after a career high performance, Browne’s goal remains the same, and he expects to expand on it moving ahead.
Browne is hoping that his effort against Meralco will give him more minutes in the Converge rotation.
the Filipino-Antiguan, who was born in Canada, said “I hope so. I’ll just continue to put in the work, staying ready, whether I play again or I don’t play again, I’ll be ready. Hopefully, this is a building block for me where I can step off from here,”
“He’s a pretty good shooter and has decent athleticism too,” – Coach Charles Tiu (2021)
Taylor Browne, short bio
Current Team: Converge Fiber Xers
Born: Jan 30, 1997 (25 years old)
Birthplace/Hometown: Surrey, Canada
Nationality: Canada
Height: 6-2 (188cm)
Weight: 180 (82kg)
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