THE first conference of Barangay Ginebra without Justin Brownlee came to an end on Sunday when it was swept by San Miguel in the PBA 48th Season Commissioner’s Cup semifinals.
But instead of the what ifs, Ginebra coach Tim Cone looked at the bright side in dealing with the absence of their resident import that has been with the team since 2016 but was forced out due to a positive doping test after the Asian Games last October.
Until now, a sanction has not been meted to Brownlee by any organization.
Cone: Everybody stepped up
Cone admitted Ginebra was able to learn to play without a dominant import like Brownlee, which will help them in their campaign in the next conference - the Philippine Cup.
“We are so used to having a dominant Justin Brownlee so we get into the all-Filipino, we are all kinda looking around and where’s Justin Brownlee,” said Cone shortly after their 94-91 loss to San Miguel in Game Three. “I thought everybody stepped up this conference. We have everybody stepping up.”
“I thought we developed some character in the series and we are going to bring that character in the all-Filipino,” Cone said.
In the absence of Brownlee, Tony Bishop stepped to the plate for Ginebra, and Cone lauded his play this conference that gave Ginebra a different dimension that will eventually be beneficial in the long run.
With Bishop as import, Ginebra finished the eliminations with an 8-3 win-loss record, which was good enough to take the third spot in the playoffs.
“Tony was a great import for us. He filled our holes but he wasn’t a dominant import where we can constantly fed him the ball. Our local guys stepped up. That will bode them well for the all-Filipino,” said Cone.
Cone: Justin is our guy
Cone said Brownlee will regain his slot as Barangay Ginebra import once he has been sanctioned and has served it.
“Justin is our guy and Tony knows that. If Justin gets over the suspension, Justin is going to be our import for the foreseeable future,” said Cone.
“But we are happy with Tony. We are really happy with the character he brought to the team. It thought because we had him, we developed a lot of character throughout the series and throughout the conference,” said Cone.
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