(PBA images)
Justin Brownlee will once again be the pillar of Barangay Ginebra’s title bid as the PBA Commissioner’s Cup takes shape, with teams beginning to lock in their foreign reinforcements for the mid-season conference opening on March 11.
Now 37, Justin Brownlee returns for another tour of duty with Barangay Ginebra San Miguel, marking a full decade since he first donned the Kings’ colors as an injury replacement for Paul Harris.
Since becoming Ginebra’s full-time import in 2016, Brownlee has evolved from dependable scorer to franchise icon, collecting six championships and three Best Import awards while also anchoring the national team as a naturalized Filipino.
Brownlee is, so far, the lone familiar face confirmed among the early signings for the conference, which once again allows imports of unlimited height.
His continuity with Ginebra stands in contrast to the approach taken by other teams, who are turning to fresh faces to power their campaigns.
NLEX Road Warriors have secured Haitian big man Cady Lalanne, a 6-foot-10 center with an extensive international résumé. Lalanne was selected in the second round of the 2015 NBA Draft by San Antonio out of the University of Massachusetts but spent his early pro years with the Austin Spurs in the NBA G League.
From there, his career became truly global, taking him to leagues in Puerto Rico, China, Italy, Turkey, Spain, South Korea, Kuwait, and most recently Taiwan with the Kaohsiung Aquas.
Meanwhile, Phoenix Fuel Masters, now under the direction of new head coach Charles Tiu, have turned to James Dickey as their import of choice. Also standing 6-foot-10, Dickey went undrafted out of UNC Greensboro but has carved out a solid career overseas, suiting up in Hungary, Germany, Israel, France, Ukraine, and Indonesia.
Adding a subtle layer of intrigue to Phoenix’s selection is Dickey’s prior connection to Brownlee. The two were teammates at Pelita Jaya, where they helped deliver a championship in the Indonesian Basketball League two years ago—a reminder that even as new imports arrive, familiar ties still thread through the league.
With Brownlee’s return providing a benchmark of consistency and proven winning pedigree, the Commissioner’s Cup now shapes up as a compelling clash between continuity and reinvention, as teams test whether fresh imports can rise to the standard long set by Ginebra’s enduring star.