MANILA, Philippines ? Although his two-month run on the ABS-CBN reality show ?Pinoy Big Brother Teen Clash of 2010? almost ended because of a health crisis, James Reid of Australia still emerged on top ? beating favorites Ryan Bang of Korea and Fretzie Bercede of Cebu in the finals held at the Yñares Sports Center in Antipolo City Saturday night.

Randy Dellosa, resident psychologist of PBB, thought it was the ?cute factor? that won it for Reid.

?He?s a novelty,? Dellosa explained to the Philippine Daily Inquirer in an exclusive interview on Sunday. ?He?s cute. A lot of viewers found his Aussie accent fascinating, too.?

He also got to show off his ?determination? inside the House of Kuya (Big Brother), according to the reality show?s production staff.

In an exclusive interview, Reid agreed: ?When I got sick in the house, I was able to show strength, that I could go on with the competition.?

At one point during the contest, he was rushed to a hospital and, in spite of a ?collapsed lung,? returned to the PBB house.

?The doctors advised me against going back. But I convinced my dad and the production staff that I could do it,? Reid, 17, said.

?Viewers had a maternal reaction toward him and wanted to take care of him,? Dellosa said. ?Since he was sidelined and kept a low profile, he didn?t have a chance to show negative traits on air.?

Reid described his triumph as ?unexpected.? ?Winning feels great, but I?m still in shock,? he told the Inquirer.

Dellosa advised Reid that PBB was no instant ticket to fame. ?Winning is not a guarantee . . . you have to prove yourself. You have to work hard.?

Reid himself is aware of the challenges. ?I plan to take Tagalog lessons and enroll in a couple of [acting] workshops,? he said.

Perseverance, after all, is the biggest lesson of his stay in Kuya?s house. ?The last thing Big Brother told me was ?Dream big!? That?s the same advice I can share to other teenagers,? Reid said.

Reid won P1 million cash, a P3-million condo unit, a water-refilling franchise worth P1.5 million, an Asian trip for two, a laptop and a 46-inch LCD TV.