Justin Brownlee is now a 10-time champion across four Asian leagues. IBL (file photo)

 

MANILA–Justin Brownlee added an IBL championship to his already decorated career in Asia as Pelita Jaya prevailed over Satria Muda, 73-65, in the title decider on Sunday night at the Indoor Stadium Sport Center in Tangerang, Indonesia.

KJ McDaniels came alive anew in the clutch as he nailed the go-ahead three that sparked Pelita Jaya’s late breakaway to win Game 3 of the best-of-three finals against its neighbor from downtown Jakarta.

Despite holding Satria Muda to only three points in the second quarter, all within the final 51 seconds of the period, Pelita Jaya struggled to blow the game wide open from there as Satria Muda fought back and tied the game, 61-all, with 2:12 left in the fourth quarter.

However, McDaniels hit a huge three just at the two-minute warning and made two more free throws to put Pelita Jaya back up, 66-61, with 1:31 left.

McDaniels, who struggled from the line in Game 2 the night before, converted three more charities to keep Pelita Jaya afloat despite Reynaldo Garcia’s efforts to keep Satria Muda in the game.

Brandon Jawato eventually sealed Pelita Jaya’s championship with two free throws even as McDaniels secured an offensive rebound off Anthony Beane’s missed charity to not give Satria Muda one last crack at the basket before the final buzzer sounded.

Beane led Pelita Jaya, which reclaimed the IBL title after seven years, with 23 points on six threes, six rebounds, two assists, six steals, and two blocks en route to winning Finals MVP honors.

McDaniels and Muhamad Arighi each tallied 13 markers as Pelita Jaya won its fourth championship as a franchise dating back to the days of the IBL’s predecessor, the Premier Basketball League.

In his final IBL game before flying back to the Philippines to join Ginebra in the PBA, Brownlee struggled, only tallying nine points on 3-for-12 field goals and 2-for-4 free throws, but he would not be denied of his 10th league championship as a player also counting his days with Alab Pilipinas in the defunct ABL and Al-Riyadi in the LBL.

Garcia’s 18-point output alongside eight rebounds, six assists, two steals, and two blocks was not enough as Satria Muda lost back-to-back games on the road after taking Game 1 at home.

However, making the finals despite entering the playoffs as the fifth seed was already a great achievement for the club.