MANILA, Philippines–Gilas Pilipinas’ star player Justin Brownlee received a hero’s welcome at Ninoy Aquino International Airport on Sunday morning. Still awestruck by the team’s golden run in the 19th Asian Games, Brownlee expressed his gratitude and disbelief at the incredible achievement.

In his own words, Brownlee said, “It feels great to be back home and bring back gold for the fans and for the people here in the Philippines to see. Man, I still can’t believe it to be honest. It’s such a surreal moment.”

Brownlee, the naturalized forward, played a crucial role in leading the hastily assembled national team to its first Asiad basketball gold in a while. Alongside Ange Kouame and several standouts from the Philippine Basketball Association, Brownlee performed exceptionally well against China, scoring 33 points to stun the host and secure a rematch against Jordan for the top prize.

As a resident import for Barangay Ginebra, Brownlee has also delivered unforgettable moments for his PBA club, the national team, and in the Southeast Asian Games. However, he considers this recent feat in Hangzhou to be one of the highlights of his career.

When asked about the possibility of having a statue built in his likeness, Brownlee chuckled and said, “Man, that would be unbelievable. I never dreamed of having a statue anywhere in the world. But that would be a dream come true. A very special thing.”

While the idea of a statue may become a reality, Brownlee has never sought validation through such means. He remains humble and focused on improving himself. “Like I said, I’m still shocked. It feels so surreal. I can’t believe that I’m standing before you guys talking about a gold medal,” he expressed.

Reflecting on his journey, Brownlee added, “You know, back in my first time coming to the Philippines—those stories from Sol (Mercado), even some other guys like LA (Tenorio) who talk about [anecdotes of my laughable beginnings] as well—it’s all amazing. But being here, in this position at the present time is such a surreal moment.”

With a smile, Brownlee concluded, “But you know, I just got to keep working and keep getting better. That’s what I’ve been trying to do from Day 1 coming to the Philippines.”