All-time great Black believes RHJ-Brownlee matchup one of best PBA has seen
Norman Black can possibly go for hours naming the great imports that have come and gone during the course of his 44-year association with the PBA.
And there’s no doubt on his part that Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and Justin Brownlee are among those magnificent foreigners who have succeeded in this part of the pro basketball world.
“I think the first thing to recognize is Brownlee and Hollis-Jefferson are two of the best imports to ever play here,” Black told the Inquirer. “They are exceptional players, and they really get the job done over and over again.”
The discussion came when Black was asked if there’s any rivalry that matched or exceeded the Hollis-Jefferson-Brownlee duel in three championship battles, including last month’s Commissioner’s Cup Finals that went the full seven games.
Both imports played through respective injuries before Hollis-Jefferson overcame hamstring problems to help TNT beat Ginebra and Brownlee, who persevered through a dislocated right thumb.
All three meetings have ended in Hollis-Jefferson’s favor, denying Brownlee a seventh title which could have broken his tie with Alaska legend Sean Chambers for most among imports.
Places cemented
Their successes should cement their places among the great reinforcements of any era and arguably describe the RHJ-JB rivalry as like no other. But Black offered to put some context into these thoughts.
“It’s a little bit different back when I played,” said Black, who played for Tefilin, Great Taste, Alaska and San Miguel Beer in the ’80s, plus a one-off appearance for Pop Cola in 1998. “If you look at the way Billy Ray Bates and I played, we were probably more productive than [those] two guys.
“We averaged more like 40 or 50 points a game and 20 rebounds a game and probably had to do more as far as production is concerned.
“But at the same time, talent is talent, and I recognize talent when I see it,” he went on. “And for a guy like Brownlee, what amazes me the most is the fact that he’s been able to do it not just over a long period of time but also in the clutch.
“He’s very clutch in his career. And Hollis-Jefferson’s beat him three times now, so it shows the talent that he brings to the table,” he added.
As TNT and Ginebra begin their latest campaigns, albeit without their imports as the 49th season closes with the Philippine Cup, Black can only reflect on what the previous Finals was and its eventual place in PBA lore.
“I really thought before [that] series started … that we will have one of the best series in the PBA, all because both teams are very talented with their local lineups, but at the same time they both carry two of the best imports,” said Black. “And I was right, it turned out exactly to be a great series.”
TNT begins its Grand Slam quest on Wednesday against NLEX at Smart Araneta Coliseum, while Ginebra starts out on the same day opposite Terrafirma.
The two are seen as among the obstacles in the title-retention bid of Meralco, where Black serves as consultant.
It is one of the roles Black has held in his historic PBA service, in addition to being a player, coach and broadcaster. He began in 1981 for Tefilin and either played and coached with or against a number of magnificent reinforcements.
“Billy Ray, Bobby Parks, Michael Hackett, David Thirdkill, Michael Young, Rob Williams,” Black said. “One guy to me that stands out was Carlos Briggs, who is an unbelievable talent and a great scorer. And who can forget Tony Harris and how strong he is going to the basket?
“So there are a lot of great guys that have arrived in the Philippines, some great rivalries back in the days.”
