Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
Help is on the way for Barangay Ginebra.
After a 1-3 start in the 2018 PBA Commissioner’s Cup, the Gin Kings have finally decided to bring back Justin Brownlee and replace Chuck Garcia.
Agent Sheryl Reyes, who handles Brownlee, announced the return of the two-time PBA champion on her Twitter account.
Mga ka barangay it’s official Justin Brownlee is back … ginebra’s import once again .. watch him next game woot woot #teamreyes pic.twitter.com/xkdEWipwrx
— Sheryl Sanchez Reyes (@FemaleAgentSR) May 21, 2018
Interestingly, Brownlee’s return will be against fierce rival Meralco on June 1 at Mall of Asia Arena.
Ginebra and Meralco have faced each other in the last two Governors’ Cup Finals with Brownlee and the Gin Kings winning on both times.
The 30-year-old Brownlee is already Ginebra’s third import in a month after sending Shane Edwards home and going with Garcia just before the start of the conference.
Garcia averaged 17.8 points, 10.3 rebounds and 4.0 assists. He had 19 points and 18 rebounds in his final game—a 103-98 loss to Phoenix in double overtime—wherein he fouled out with still 5:23 left in regulation.
Reyes also announced the return of Henry Walker to Blackwater, which let go of Jarrid Famous.
The Elite went 0-6 with Famous, who wasn’t as dominant as he once was when he suited up for the GlobalPort Batang Pier in 2015.
Famous only had 11 points and 12 rebounds with four turnovers in a 120-101 blowout at the hands of TNT on Friday.
Brownlee is coming off a stint in the Asean Basketball League where he and Renaldo Balkman, who just returned to San Miguel Beer as import, led Alab Pilipinas to the championship.