Where does SEAG gold rank for Justin Brownlee? 'I gotta put this at the top'

PHNOM PENH — Justin Brownlee has played in numerous championship games in the past, but the naturalized Filipino said Gilas Pilipinas' gold medal run in the 32nd Southeast Asian Games will definitely be a special one for him.

"Man, I gotta put this at the top," Brownlee said.

"There's nothing like it but I have to say that about representing and putting on this Pilipinas jersey? There's nothing like it. It's an unbelievable feeling."

It was a challenging SEA Games campaign for Brownlee and Gilas Pilipinas. They were humbled by an import-filled Cambodia team in their group stage meeting that put their redemption bid in question.

But the Filipinos persevered, overcoming issues with the playing conditions and the heat to set up a rematch with Cambodia in the gold medal round, which they eventually won after an 80-69 victory at the jam-packed Morodok Elephant Hall in Phnom Penh.

And Brownlee is savoring every moment of it.

"When you have the whole country behind your back supporting you, the more you do great and you just kind of feed off that energy and give it your all," Brownlee added.

"I pride myself in giving it all out there and leaving it all on the floor and like I said before — The Filipino pride, that's what it's all about. Win, lose, draw... We leave it all out on the floor and whatever happens. We live with it."

—JMB, GMA Integrated News