BARANGAY Ginebra wants Justin Brownlee to rest as long as he can, but isn’t closing the possibility that he can come back at some point during the PBA 50th Season Governors’ Cup.
Head coach Tim Cone said the team has no timetable on when Brownlee will return due to the multiple injuries that he is recovering from, but the ball is on the court of their resident import on when he wants to play.
“We are not putting anything in stone but I think we owe it to Justin from a loyalty standpoint that when he is ready, he is going to play,” Cone said on Friday.
READ: Red-hot Ginebra vents ire on Blackwater to get first Govs Cup win
Brownlee is back in the United States for his treatment from a hamstring strain and peroneal tendinopathy in his right leg, and swelling and cartilage defects on his left knee, injuries that could take weeks to heal.
But with the Governors’ Cup running until December due to the PBA giving way to Gilas Pilipinas’ participation in the Window 4 of the FIBA Basketball World Cup Asian Qualifiers in August and the 20th Asian Games from September to October, a Brownlee comeback could indeed be possible.
But Cone isn’t rushing.
“The longer Justin has to recuperate and get back, the better it is,” Cone said.
For now, Barangay Ginebra has its import in Riley Grigsby, who has so far picked up the slack in place of Brownlee.
Following the Gin Kings’ 115-85 win over Blackwater, Grigsby is now averaging 30 points, 10.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 2.0 steals, and 1.0 block after he debuted in the PBA with 42 points.
Cone said Grigsby understands the situation.
“We were very clear with Riley. He came in with his eyes wide open,” Cone said.
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