JUSTIN Brownlee may be the smallest import in the coming PBA Commissioner’s Cup, but Barangay Ginebra will get added ceiling in the second conference.
After a long while, big man Isaac Go finally returns to active duty for the Kings, giving the team the size it lost by opting to bring back the 6-foot-6 Brownlee for another tour of duty in a tournament with no height restrictions among imports.
Coach Tim Cone disclosed the impending return of the 6-foot-7 Go, who has been grounded for more than a year owing to an ACL-related injury.
READ Geo Chiu vows to help Terrafirma shake off cellar-dweller label
“We got Isaac Go coming back. We have an extra big along with our other two bigs,” said the Ginebra mentor, referring to veterans Japeth Aguilar and Troy Rosario. “So we’ll have a three-headed monster to try to contain these big other imports.”
The three-time UAAP champion out of Ateneo is set for his first game with the Kings since being acquired in a trade with Terrafirma along with Stephen Holt for the duo of Stanley Pringle and Christian Stanhardinger.
It has been a long journey to recovery for Go considering Holt and the Kings had already played in two finals without him, Pringle has since opted out of the Dyip and is now in his second season with Rain or Shine, and the 6-foot-7 Standhardinger is already retired.
Ready for full-contract practice
Ginebra deputy Olsen Racela said the 29-year-old Go has already joined Ginebra in its drills and practices, but has yet to participate in full-contact practices.
“May isang clearance na lang which would come within the week. Once may go-signal na, puwede na siyang sumali sa scrimmages,” said Racela, who’s currently in-charge of the Ginebra practices together with fellow assistant Johnny Abarrientos as Cone fulfills his duty with Gilas Pilipinas in the coming FIBA windows.
The return of Go, the top pick during the 2019 special Gilas draft, will allow the Kings to remain competitive in the import-laden conference despite Brownlee battling imports bigger than him.
“We’re looking forward to it. We’re looking forward to the challenge,” said Cone, who appeared as guest in the weekly program Power & Play of former PBA commissioner Noli Eala.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
