BEFORE the media and fans' imaginations run wild, Tim Cone has put clarity on Barangay Ginebra's import situation.
"Justin will be our import," Cone told SPIN.ph emphatically when asked if Ginebra will be sticking with Justin Brownlee in a PBA Season 50 Commissioner's Cup where there are no height restrictions for imports.
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That five-word response sets up Brownlee for his 10th year at Ginebra, where he has won six PBA championships and three Best Import awards. Two of those titles and one of his Best Import trophies came in the Commissioner's Cup.
However, Ginebra and Brownlee have not won a championship since the 2022-23 season, or not since beating foreign guest team Bay Area Dragons in a memorable Commissioner's Cup title series that went the full seven games.
Ginebra and Brownlee have gone 0-3 in a PBA Finals since then, losing each time to TNT and Rondae Hollis-Jefferson.
This season's Commissioner's Cup unfolding in March will also be the second without a height limit for imports. Last season, the 6-5 Brownlee led the Gin Kings all the way to the finals before losing to RHJ and TNT in a Game Seven.
Ginebra's 37-year old resident import should be in game shape by the time the conference starts in early March. He is set to play one game with Meralco in the EASL before joining Gilas Pilipinas in two FIBA World Cup qualifiers against Australia and New Zealand later this month.
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