TNT’s Rondae Hollis-Jefferson leads the PBA Best Import race heading into the Governors’ Cup Finals.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines–The PBA Best Import award is now a toss-up between TNT’s Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and Barangay Ginebra’s Justin Brownlee after emerging 1-2 in Statistical Points at the end of the Governors’ Cup semifinals.
Hollis-Jefferson topped the derby with 57.4 Statistical Points while Brownlee is a distant second with 50.9 based on the tabulations released by the league Saturday after leading their respective teams to the Finals of the season-opening conference.
San Miguel Beer’s EJ Anosike is third with 44.6 followed by Rain or Shine’s Aaron Fuller with 41.8 to also gain the nod as official candidates for the award named after the late Shell import Bobby Parks.
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Both Hollis-Jefferson and Brownlee have won the honor given to the best foreign player in the past, with the latter eyeing to make history.
Ginebra’s Justin Brownlee is eyeing his fourth PBA Best Import award.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
Brownlee is seeking a fourth Best Import that will break his tie with Meralco’s Allen Durham for second on the all-time list. Parks holds the record with seven. His Best Import plaques came in the 2018 Commissioner’s Cup, 2021-22 Governors’ Cup and 2022-23 Commissioner’s Cup.
Hollis-Jefferson captured the Best Import in the 2023 Governors’ Cup when he led TNT to the championship over Brownlee and Ginebra.
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Forty-five percent of the statistics will be used to determine the winner as the remaining criteria will come from the media (30%) and players (25%).
The winner will be named before Game 4 of the Ginebra-TNT Finals duel on Nov. 3 at Smart Araneta Coliseum.