BARANGAY Ginebra and TNT, the two recent PBA Commissioner’s Cup finals protagonists, make their respective debuts in the Season 50 Governors’ Cup on Sunday at the Araneta Coliseum.
The Gin Kings dethroned the Tropang 5G in an epic seven-game title series to rule the Commissioner’s Cup behind four-time Best Import Justin Brownlee and Best Player of the Conference RJ Abarrientos.
But come Sunday’s conference debut, Brownlee won’t be around as he continues to recover from multiple injuries he has— from hamstring, knee and leg— a byproduct of long playing milage as a pro.
The Gin Kings though will have former G League product Riley Grigsby to fill in the spot vacated by Brownlee when the team takes on the streaking Phoenix Fuel Masters at 7:30 p.m.
Coach Tim Cone flew to the United States nearly two weeks ago and personally scouted the 26-year-old former Santa Cruz Warriors and Sioux Falls Skyforce forward.
Ginebra will be facing a Phoenix side that sports a 2-0 record to share the top spot with Converge at Group B .
Phoenix got off to a strong start, beating Magnolia, 98-86, before nipping an import-less Meralco side, 98-97 last Wednesday.
American Robert Johnson III will be leading the way, along with Jason Perkins, Ricci Rivero, and will have an added veteran guard in Gian Mamuyac, whom the team recently acquired in a trade with Rain or Shine.
If anything, the Gin Kings remain a solid title contender, given their vast playoff experience, with Grigsby expected to inject his youth and dynamism under Cone’s squad.
Meanwhile, the opening game at 5:15 p.m. features an injury-plagued TNT going up against Macau.
The Tropang 5G won’t have Jayson Castro, Calvin Oftana and Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser as the three are dealing with an assortment of injuries.
Coach Chot Reyes said the injuries are part of the wear and tear of his players, given their five straight finals appearances.
