Balkman, Brownlee set friendship aside

Three months after Renaldo Balkman and Justin Brownlee lifted the Asean Basketball League (ABL)trophy, they will be in the finals again.

But this time, they will be at the opposite end as San Miguel Beer and Ginebra open their Philippine Basketball Association Commissioner’s Cup best-of-seven finals duel on Friday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Balkman and Brownlee are more than just teammates.

After serving as replacements to Reggie Okosa and Ivan Johnson, Balkman and Brownlee formed a developed a special bond as they battled long travels, homesickness and Asia’s finest club teams en route to an ABL title.

“We’re always brothers,” said Balkman, who was brought in to replace Troy Gillenwater in the middle of the elimination round, during the pre-finals press conference yesterday in Quezon City.

“But it’s going to be a fight until the end. We’re going to give everybody a good show. At the same time, we’re both trying to compete for a championship.”

Brownlee, who came in to replace Charles Garcia and rescue the Kings form the verge of defeat, said facing Balkman in the finals gives him a different kind of challenge.

“Just a couple of months ago, we’re like Batman and Robin. Balkman’s my brother for life but for right now, he’s an opponent,” Brownlee said.

And while Balkman is sourcing his motivation from the suspension slapped on him in 2013, Brownlee is looking to lead the Kings to another crown after towing them to a back-to-back Governor’s Cup titles in 2016 and 2017.

Still, both imports promised a great show.

“it’s going to be exciting for the fans. It’s going to be a treat for them. It’s going to be a show,” Brownlee said before throwing a friendly glance at Balkman.

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