THERE will still be no Justin Brownlee for Barangay Ginebra when the PBA Governors’ Cup resumes two weeks from now.
The Gin Kings have brought in Puerto Rican and Virgin Islander Jordan Murphy to be their import, at least for the remaining games in the eliminations of the final conference for Season 50.
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The 29-year-old Murphy, a product of University of Minnesota, arrived in the country on Thursday, according to Barangay Ginebra deputy Richard del Rosario.
He takes over the place previously held by Riley Grigsby.
Tapping the services of Murphy, a G. League veteran but undrafted in the NBA, meant the 38-year-old Brownlee hasn’t fully recovered from the multiple injuries that kept him out of the early part of the Governors’ Cup and forced him to miss Gilas Pilipinas’ campaign in the FIBA World Cup qualifiers and the 20th Asian Games.
The health issue surrounding Brownlee forced Barangay Ginebra to look for a temporary replacement in Grigsby, who appeared to be a decent import, but not good enough to bring in the Ws for the reigning Commissioner's Cup champion.
Under Grigsby, the Kings limped off to a 2-4 record and at the bottom of Group B just as the league went into a long season break.
Now, the team is looking at Murphy to be up to the task.
The San Antonio, Texas native had a stellar college career at the University of Minnesota, where he emerged as the school’s career all-time rebounder and career double-double leader.
Yet that wasn't enough to be his passport to the NBA, where he was undrafted in 2019.
But Murphy found a home in the G. League, suiting up for several teams such as the Iowa Wolves, Austin Spurs, Greensboro Swarm, and Mexico City Capitanes.
He also had experience of playing overseas, in particular in Puerto Rico and Israel,
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