New San Miguel import Orlando Johnson. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines—San Miguel is set to replace exiting import Brandon Brown with the returning Orlando Johnson for the rest of the 2021-22 PBA Governors’ Cup.
Johnson, who previously played for Barangay Ginebra in 2015, is already in the Philippines as per previous reports and could see action January 8 against Phoenix at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The 6-foot-5 shooting guard also reposted on his Instagram stories a fan-edited video with the caption “time to work,” alluding to his return to the PBA.
Johnson led the Gin Kings to a 5-6 finish for the eighth spot in the standings but lost to eventual runner-up Alaska in the quarterfinals.
While Ginebra had a subpar campaign, the former Indiana Pacer starred in his role averaging 33.7 points and 11.3 rebounds.
San Miguel was off to a rocky start to the season going 0-2 in the first two games before stringing together three straight wins to get into a three-way tie at the fifth seed with Alaska and Phoenix.
Brown still had decent numbers of 23.4 points, 12.6 rebounds, and 5.0 assists but his interior-centric play style often clogged up the lane as he shared the post with June Mar Fajardo and Vic Manuel.
Brown, meanwhile, has the ability tho stretch the floor as he was never employed as a big man with the Gin Kings and often operated at the shooting guard or small forward spots.