THE Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings will be banking anew on the reliability of Justin Brownlee.
The consistent games of the naturalized Filipino has brought the Gin Kings to the finals of the 49th Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Commissioner’s Cup.
And his matchup with TNT import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson is something coach Tim Cone is looking forward to.
“With Justine, it’s the comfortability we have with him, knowing he’s gonna show up at the moment, being a great teammate, and being one of the guys,” said Cone.
Along with Tropang Giga coach Chot Reyes, Cone talked about the finals during a Monday afternoon press conference at the Kamay Kainan Restaurant in Quezon City.
Game 1 is set at 7:30 p.m. at the Mall of Asia Arena on Friday.
Meanwhile, ace point guard Jayson Castro won’t be around for the Tropang Giga in the finals due to an injury.
“I don’t think anyone can fill in the shoes of Jayson. So I asked the boys to do a bit more and try to contribute to more than what they usually do,” said Reyes. “That’s the best we can do. I hope they can cover up for Jayson.”
Castro will sit out a finals for the first time. He will be out for a year after sustaining a right patellar tendon tear on his right knee suffered during Game 3 of TNT’s semifinal series against Rain or Shine last February 28. He has since underwent surgery.
Castro has been in nine PBA championship conquests for TNT since 2008, namely the 2008–09 Philippine Cup, the 2010–11 Philippine Cup, the 2011 Commissioner’s Cup, the 2011–12 Philippine Cup Cup, the 2013 Philippine Cup, the 2015 Commissioner’s Cup, the 2021 Philippine Cup, the 2023 and 2024 Governors’ Cup.