FILE–Former NBA player Glenn Robinson III will suit up for the Magnolia Hotshots in the PBA Governors’ Cup. –Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images/AFP
Three PBA teams have secured the services of imports who they hope would match up well with Justin Brownlee and future counterparts ahead of the season-opening Governors’ Cup that tips off on Aug. 18.
Magnolia and Blackwater tapped ex-NBA players Glenn Robinson III and Ricky Ledo, respectively, while Rain or Shine is bringing in a familiar name in Aaron Fuller for the tournament that will implement a double-round group play.
Ginebra, obviously, will have Brownlee anew in a much-anticipated return after skipping last season’s PBA Commissioner’s Cup due to his Fiba suspension.
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Brownlee, however, won’t be reporting to the Ginebra camp until early-August due to his ongoing stint with Pelita Jaya of Indonesia’s IBL (Indonesia Basketball League).
Other teams are expected to secure the services of their prospective imports in coming days and weeks, with the first of three conferences for Season 49 just over a month away.
Unlike in past seasons, the PBA is implementing a new format for the Governors’ Cup with the 12 teams divided into two groups.
The Inquirer learned on Monday that Group A will comprise Philippine Cup champion Meralco, Magnolia, TNT, NorthPort, Converge and Terrafirma.
Group B has Commissioner’s Cup winner San Miguel Beer, Ginebra, NLEX, Phoenix, Rain or Shine and Blackwater.
Son of All-Star
Each of the top four teams will advance to a crossover quarterfinals under a best-of-five series format.
Robinson is the son of former Milwaukee Bucks All-Star Glenn “Big Dog” Robinson and is a product of the University of Michigan in the US NCAA. The younger Robinson played for six NBA teams, his longest tenure being with the Indiana Pacers from 2015 to 2018.
He won the NBA’s Slam Dunk competition in 2017.
Ledo had brief NBA stints for the Dallas Mavericks and New York Knicks between 2014 and 2015, and spent the past five years in Asia in China, Taiwan and Lebanon.
Fuller will be making his fifth PBA stint.