No Justin Brownlee for the PBA Commissioner's Cup? Barangay Ginebra San Miguel seems to be doing just fine.
Ginebra overcame the challenge presented by the Converge FiberXers on Friday, picking up the 100-86 victory in their first game this conference.
Tony Bishop, the replacement import for Ginebra while JB deals with his Asian Games doping issue, didn't seem fazed, as he led all scorers with 34 points, along with 12 rebounds, three assists, three steals, and two blocks.
"We didn't feel like Tony was that foreign to us when he came to the team. We felt we had a pretty good feel for the kind of game he plays and the personality he has," Ginebra coach Tim Cone said after the game.
Of course, they would know. Bishop was part of the Meralco Bolts in the six-game 2021 PBA Governors' Cup finals against Brownlee and Ginebra.
In fact, Cone likened him to one reinforcement he knows very well.
"He has a high basketball IQ. He works really hard in practice every day. He wins all of our drills. Kind of reminds me a little bit of Sean Chambers," Cone shared. "Sean would never lose a drill either."
Chambers was a resident import for the Alaska Milkmen under Cone. He is still very much a part of the league after being recently hired as an assistant coach by the TNT Tropang Giga.
ALSO READ: GUTS AND GLORY | Why is it more difficult for PBA teams to find resident imports in recent years?
Bishop's perseverance and competitive streak in drills do a lot more for his teammates, Cone noted.
"It carries over to the game. Players see that in practice, gives them confidence in the game," he said. "I think he has the potential to be a really good fit for us."
Bishop has the same respect for Cone, seeing as he likened the PBA's winningest coach to a basketball Hall of Famer.
The new Ginebra import will be put to the test this Sunday, as they will take on the Magnolia Hotshots in Manila Clasico at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
It will be aired live at 6:15 p.m. on A2Z, PBA Rush, and the Pilipinas Live app.
(PM)