VANCOUVER – Having closed the book on his impressive U SPORTS career, T-Bird guard and Surrey, B.C. native
Taylor Browne is turning pro, having been selected 16
th overall in the 2021 Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Draft.
The 6-foot-2, 185 pound Browne was chosen by the Alaska Aces with their first pick of the second round in Sunday's draft, the only Canadian selected in the eight round process, and one of just three players from outside either the Philippines or the United States.
"It was surreal," said Browne of the experience of hearing his name called on the televised draft event. "I have always dreamed of this moment and it was amazing. My family in the Philippines was watching it on live TV and even they said it was one of the coolest experiences. It means the world to me to be able to play in my mother's home country, and to represent Canadians in this league is what motivates me. This has been my dream since I was a kid so getting to this point is so fulfilling."
Following the cancellation of the 2020-21 Canada West season due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Browne turned his attention to his post-university options and travelled to the south pacific in January to begin training locally ahead of the 36
th PBA draft.
Browne graduated in 2015 from Holy Cross Regional Secondary where he led the Crusaders with 30.6 points-per-game in his senior year before transitioning to a T-Bird as a rookie that fall.
Capping off his UBC career as a Canada West champion, Browne played some of the best basketball of his career at the 2019 U SPORTS Final 8 tournament in Ottawa, helping the T-Birds to a bronze medal finish.
Appearing in a total of 132 games with UBC, Browne finished his T-Bird career shooting 40 percent from the field and 43 percent from three-point range.
From B.C. High School All-Star to PBA draft pick, Browne certainly sees this moment as a reward for all he has worked for thus far. But he also knows his hard work is just really beginning.
"This was my ultimate goal and for it to actually be happening is everything I've ever wanted. All the blood, sweat, tears, and sacrifices I had to make to get to this point was all worth it. This is just the beginning for me, I have so much work to put in moving forward but at least I made it to my goal. Now the next step is to make a long career here."
Not only is Browne set to begin his professional career, he will do so with one of the most successful franchises in league history.
Since joining the PBA in 1986, the Aces have won a total of 14 league championships.
"I'm excited to live up to championship expectations because I want to win as many as I can in my career with them," said Browne of the thrill of joining one of the PBA's elite teams. "I know that every championship we win as an Alaska Ace will impact all the fans in tremendous ways."
As with all facets of life in early 2021, the start of the next PBA season is contingent on COVID-19. Set to begin in mid-April, there is still much uncertainty and everything depends on how the ongoing battle against the pandemic looks at that time.
But regardless, Browne will continue to train and prepare for whenever his chance will come, a moment he has waited for the better part of his life.
