Cone gets G-League vet as JB replacement

Barangay Ginebra head coach Tim Cone has full confidence in new import Riley Grigsby holding the fort while resident reinforcement Justin Brownlee recuperates from a bevy of injuries.

Left searching for a replacement for Brownlee, Cone saw great potential in the unheralded 26-year-old to fill the huge shoes left by the four-time Best Import in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Season 50 Governors’ Cup.

The National Basketball Association (NBA) G-League veteran is already in Manila to work on building chemistry with the squad and familiarize with Cone’s system.

“Big body. Can play in and out,” Cone told Daily Tribune in a message

Grigsby has an impressive resume playing pro basketball after his US NCAA Division I stint for the Seattle University Red Hawks.

He saw action in Luxemborg and joined the NBA G-League for the Santa Cruz Warriors and the Sioux Falls Skyforce.

“He has good recommendations from his former coaches,” Cone added.

Brownlee, who won seven titles for Ginebra in the past 10 years, suffered a hamstring strain and peroneal tendinopathy on his right leg as well as swelling and cartilage defects on the left knee.

Just weeks after leading the Kings to their 16th title overall in a grueling seven-game Commissioner’s Cup finals series against dethroned TNT, the 38-year-old Brownlee bannered Gilas Pilipinas in the third window of the 2027 FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifier on the road.

Brownlee saw action in Gilas’ 102-106 double-overtime loss New Zealand but was limited to just five points. He sat out the Philippines’ 43-point beating at the hands of Australia due to his injuries.

Grigsby will need to fill in the numbers Brownlee put up in the previous tournament, where he averaged almost 37 points, nine rebounds and five assists per game during the finals.

He will have his baptism of fire on 19 July against Phoenix at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Cone made it clear that Grigsby will only serve as a temporary import until Brownlee gets clearance to play.

“Justin, however, will play when he is deemed ready,” said Cone, who added that Brownlee has a timetable for his return after at least a month.

Grigsby is only the second reinforcement after Tony Bishop to suit up for Ginebra in the past decade, other than Brownlee.

Bishop took the spot of Brownlee during the 2023-2024 season as the Gilas naturalized player served out a doping suspension slapped by FIBA.