Sol Mercado was responsible for getting the ball to Justin Brownlee to set up that epic championship-clinching three-point shot in Game 6 of the 2016 PBA Governors' Cup Finals. But believe it or not, Mercado says Brownlee didn't look like he was destined for greatness when he first reported for practice for Barangay Ginebra San Miguel earlier that year.
"The funny story is, in his first practice, we were like, 'Oh God, we're in trouble'," former teammate and now free agent Mercado said with a chuckle in Thursday's episode of 2OT podcast of Carlo Pamintuan and Magoo Marjon.
Brownlee was tapped to replace Paul Harris, who suffered a hyperextended thumb open structure in their opening victory against GlobalPort, 93-84, at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
The first impression didn't last long as Brownlee eventually proved his mettle for the crowd favorites, scattering 31 points to go with 13 rebounds, two steals, and an assist before cramping up in the final stretch of the Gin Kings' 109-100 loss to Alaska - his first game in the PBA.
Mercado and Brownlee would eventually team up for that conference's last play, with the veteran guard inbounding the ball to Brownlee late in Game 6 of the finals and the American burying a triple at the buzzer to give Ginebra its first championship in eight years.
"Justin, the way he is in practice, there's a different switch he hits when the lights turn on," said Mercado.
"Me and Joe (Devance) were on the bench, and we're like 'Oh, he's different,' he's different when the light comes on. He just gets better and better. Even after his first time out, he came back and he was even better. He put the work in. Justin is like, he's an incredible worker."
The replacement turned himself into a legend. Brownlee has four championships under his belt as the resident Ginebra import while also captivating the hearts not only of the Ginebra faithful but also Filipino hoop fans.
Mercado paid Brownlee the ultimate compliment.
"Watching "The Last Dance" and seeing (Michael) Jordan and Kobe (Bryant) and all that... to me Justin is Jordan. He's Kobe. And the reason why is he idolizes Kobe. The way he walks, works, and talks, it's almost like Jordan and Kobe. He's in that type of mold, which is crazy to say. But I really feel that way," he said.
After helping Ginebra claim multiple championships, though, Mercado was shipped to NorthPort during last year's Commissioner's Cup in that big trade that sent Stanley Pringle to the Gin Kings.
"That was the toughest point of my career. I felt like I found a home, a coach (Tim Cone) that I felt believed in me. I thought I was gonna finish my career there," he said.
Eventually, he was able to shrug that off and lead the Batang Pier to their second semifinals appearance in franchise history. In the weeks leading to the new PBA season, though, Mercado found himself being traded for the eighth time in his career after NorthPort sent the burly guard to Phoenix for LA Revilla and Rey Guevarra.
The journeyman ended up a free agent as according to Mercado, Phoenix "really didn't have much intent in signing me."
"I got a phone call from my agent and he said they really were over the salary cap," he recalled, saying he was really excited about playing for the Fuel Masters. "When I got that they told me not to come to practice."
Right now, Mercado is trying to stay in shape in case a team in case a team will need his services.
"My plan is try to stay in shape with Jimmy (Alapag). And hopefully when a team calls I'll be ready," he said.