MANILA, Philippines -- BARANGAY Ginebra coach Tim Cone is unperturbed despite PBA teams cashing in on the no height restriction on imports in the coming Season 50 Commissioner’s Cup.
While PBA squads are maximizing the opportunity by bringing in big imports led by defending champion TNT, which is parading NBA veteran Bol Bol, Cone said they are banking on familiarity as they elected to stick with three-time PBA Best Import Justin Brownlee.
Cone said the 37-year-old Brownlee has been a tried and tested reinforcement, who has led Ginebra to three PBA titles, while making sure the Gin Kings are always in the semifinals at the very least.
“Justin is still Justin. I really felt he really plays his best in big import conference and I feel that’s where he’s most effective. He won multiple championships there,” Cone said, noting how Brownlee’s leadership and winning mentality helped him lead the Gin Kings to the Commissioner’s Cup championships in 2018 and 2022-23 seasons.
In the Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup, Brownlee led Ginebra back to the Finals, following a Governors’ Cup loss to TNT in the title series. The Gin Kings pushed the Rondae Hollis-Jefferson to seven games before losing the the Tropang 5G in the Finals.
“He’s always gotten us at least in the semis, not anything less than that,” stressed Cone. “The last time they had the whole bunch of big imports, we wound up in the finals, with Rondae and Justin, the two smallest imports.”
Brownlee at 6-4 may be the shortest, but Cone stressed that basketball continues to be a team sport.
“It’s always a team game, not how good your import is, but how well and how good he fits your team. That’s what makes the difference,” shared Cone, the league’s all-time winningest coach with 25 PBA titles. “Right now, Justin fits our team. Justin always takes that challenge.”
Brownlee is expected to be sharp and lethal by the time the Commissioner’s Cup kicks off on March 11 with the former St. Johns standout coming off a stint with Gilas Pilipinas in the FIBA World Cup 2027 Asian Qualifiers.
Gilas plays New Zealand this Thursday, February 26, followed by Australia on March 1, with both games to be played at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
An added good news for Ginebra is the expected return of local big man Isaac Go, according to Cone.
The former Ateneo big man has been out of action for over a year due to a torn ACL (anterior crucite ligament) injury on his knee.
“We got Isaac Go coming back. We have an extra big along with our other two bigs,” said the Ginebra mentor, as he points to ageless veteran big man Japeth Aguilar and Troy Rosario. “So we’ll have a three-headed monster to try to contain these big other imports.” RICHARD DY