ABL: Justin Brownlee given ultimatum by Alab Pilipinas

By Jonas Terrado

San Miguel Alab Pilipinas has issued an ultimatum to Justin Brownlee after repeatedly missing flights since agreeing to reinforce the team for the ASEAN Basketball League.

Team owner Charlie Dy told the Manila Bulletin that Brownlee has promised to arrive this week after talking with coach Jimmy Alapag to discuss the situation that left Alab with just two imports in the previous matches against the Kuala Lumpur Dragons and Saigon Heat.

Dy added that if Brownlee fails to arrive by Friday, Alab will be left with no choice but to search for another import before the league’s deadline of signing new players on Feb. 29.

“Nag-message siya kay Jimmy, he’ll be here this week,” Dy said. “Pag wala pa siya by Friday, then we have to move forward without him.”

Brownlee was tapped more than a week ago as a replacement to Prince Williams, a move Alab is hoping would translate into an improved showing in a season that has been a rollercoaster.

But Brownlee twice missed his flights from Los Angeles, forcing Alab to play with Nick King and 7-foot-5 Sam Deguara as its two imports.

Alab split its two games with King and Deguara as reinforcements.

Meanwhile, Alab has decided to replace Deguara with former PBA import and one-time Singapore Slingers reinforcement John Fields.

Fields is expected to play his first game on Sunday when Alab travels to Ho Chi Minh City to take on the Heat.

The 31-year-old played for the Columbian Dyip in the 2018 PBA Commissioner’s Cup and suited up for just one game with Magnolia in last year’s edition of the midseason conference.

He averaged 29.1 points, 19.1 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 2.0 blocks for the Dyip in 2018.

Fields also helped the Slingers reach the 2019 ABL Finals but losing to Indonesia’s CLS Knights in five games. He posted 21.6 points and 12.4 rebounds in 36 games for the Lion City outfit.

Deguara averaged 14.5 points and 10.1 rebounds in 14 games after replacing Adrian Forbes.

Source: Manila Bulletin