Justin Brownlee is one of the players named to the All-Star 5 this Riga OQT. FIBA

By Gil Moriones
MANILA–With his flamboyant and day-saving performances, Pinoy hoops hero Justin Brownlee was named a member of the All-Star 5 in the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Riga, Latvia as announced on Monday.

Joining the Perlita Jaya swingman are Latvian Rihards Lomaz, Jeremiah Hill of Cameroon, Leo Meindl, and Bruno Caboclo from eventual champion Brazil.

The remarkable performance of Brownlee contributed to the Philippines’ historic 89-80 win against Latvia scoring a near triple-double of 26 points, nine rebounds, and the same number of assists.

Despite a loss to Georgia the following game, Brownlee still put in a splendid performance of 28 points, eight, and the same amount of assists.

Brownlee, who Kai Sotto tagged in an interview as the “Michael Jordan of the Philippines,” ended the tournament recording an average of 23 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 6.3 assists per game.

He also finished the tournament perfect from the free-throw line.

For leading Brazil to the OQT championship and a place in the Paris Olympics, Caboclo was declared as the tournament MVP after tallying 17.8 points on an efficient 66.7 percent field goal shooting, 7.0 rebounds, and 2.0 blocks per game.

The former NBA journeyman scored 15 points and 11 rebounds in Brazil’s 71-60 semifinal win against Gilas Pilipinas and tallied 21 points in the final early Monday (Philippine Time) where they bludgeoned host country Latvia, 94-69, to clinch the last spot in Group B of the Paris Olympics men’s basketball event.