TIM Cone said three-time PBA Best Import Justin Brownlee will return and serve as Barangay Ginebra’s reinforcement when the pro league unveils the Commissioner’s Cup some time in March.
“Yes, Justin will be our import,” was Cone’s short response to The Manila Times’ inquiry.
The league will have no height restrictions for imports in the mid-season conference.
This year marks Brownlee’s decade-long service to the league’s most popular squad.
The 6-foot-4 Brownlee broke into the scene with much aplomb when he came in to replace an injured Paul Harris in the 2016 Governors’ Cup.
In fact, Brownlee punctuated his first conference as import by knocking down the game-winning three-point shot over counterpart Allen Durham, en route to Ginebra’s 4-2 series win against Meralco and ruling the 2016 Governors’ Cup in the process.
He would go on to lead Ginebra to the first of six championships where he served as import.
Brownlee’s last three Finals trips with Ginebra though ended in defeat — all with TNT, which had former Brooklyn Nets forward Rondae Hollis-Jefferson as import.
TNT beat Ginebra in the Governors’ Cup twice (2022-23 and 2024-25), along with a 4-3 Finals series triumph last season.
