Cone sees former import in Brownlee

Ginebra head coach Tim Cone. PBA IMAGES

The last time coach Tim Cone saw an import like Justin Brownlee, he was winning championship after championship with the Alaska Aces.

That doesn’t bode well for the Meralco Bolts, who will try to win their first franchise crown in a best-of-seven duel for the Governors’ Cup with the Kings starting tomorrow.

“In 27 years, he’s the only import that has come close to Sean Chambers that I have coached and I cannot think of a better compliment for him,” said Cone.

Hitting big shots, making teammates better and being a great guy off the court. Those are the characteristics that remind Cone of his former go-to import.

Chambers won six PBA championships with Cone during their Alaska salad days in the 90s, highlighted by a rare Grand Slam in the 1996 Governors Cup.

Now 51 and 15 years removed from pro ball, the California-based Chambers still keeps a special relationship with Cone and his former teammates, a bond that Cone thinks Brownlee could build with the crowd-favorite Kings.

“Justin did a lot of things for us. He’s a great player but he’s a better person, incredible person,” said Cone after they ousted defending champion San Miguel Beer in Game 5 of their semifinal duel Tuesday night.

Brownlee, the 6-foot-7 St. Johns University alum who played for the New York Knicks in the 2011 NBA Summer League, did few in the league have ever done, shutting down reigning MVP June Mar Fajardo in Game 5.

Fajardo, the top MVP contender for the third straight season, went 0-of-1 from the field and got his measly seven points from the free throw line in almost 36 minutes.