It’s looking like Barangay Ginebra San Miguel will be riding Justin Brownlee until the wheels fall off.
To no one’s surprise, Tim Cone will be bringing back JB for the PBA Commissioner’s Cup for his 12th tour of duty with Ginebra—and in an import conference with unlimited height, no less. It’s a calculated gamble, if anything, given that Brownlee will be 38 in April and will likely have to go up against imports much taller than him.
Justin Brownlee Is Still Pretty Good
Then again, Justin Brownlee is still Justin Brownlee. And while he may have lost a step, he has continued to show that he is still plenty good—and that he still has something left in the tank.
In the FIBA Asia Cup last August, for instance, he was still Gilas Pilipinas’ main man, putting up 20.6 points, 5.2 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 1.0 steal while shooting 48.3% from downtown and 53.6% overall.
Last season, JB led Ginebra to two more Finals appearances—once in the Governors’ Cup and then again in the Commissioner’s Cup—as he averaged 24.9 points, 9.2 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 1.1 steals, and 1.2 blocks. He also showed in Season 49 that he has plenty of magic left, time and again rescuing Ginebra in the clutch with his patented three-point shot.
Can Justin Brownlee Carry Ginebra Again?
This season, Justin Brownlee will be entering a very different PBA landscape. Teams are much better now, with the San Miguel Beermen and TNT Tropang 5G the undisputed yardsticks.
There’s also the suddenly very scary Converge FiberXers, who just got miles better with the recent acquisition of Calvin Abueva, and the emerging Magnolia Hotshots, who are being guided by JB’s former point guard for Ginebra, LA Tenorio. Even the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters are still a talented bunch who’ll surely be a hard out.
In other words, the soon-to-be 38-year-old will likely be up for his most challenging tour of duty yet, especially with Ginebra seemingly still in a state of flux and without its usual star power.
So, can Justin Brownlee make magic once more? Ginebra fans certainly hope he can.
