Ginebra coach Tim Cone is leaving the decision to Justin Brownlee, who has had a hectic basketball year so far.
Uncertainty surrounds Justin Brownlee after failing to help Ginebra beat TNT in the PBA Season 49 Governors’ Cup Finals.
Following a hectic basketball year for Brownlee, it is not clear whether the beloved import will be back for the Gin Kings in the Commissioner’s Cup.
“If he wants to be. He’s a hundred percent yes if he wants to be. The question is whether he will want to be. He’s a little worn down. He’s talked about maybe taking the conference off,” Ginebra coach Tim Cone said of Brownlee, who also played in Indonesia before coming home in time for the Governors’ Cup.
Indeed, it looked like fatigue had finally taken a toll on the naturalized Filipino after successive taxing battles against top teams Meralco in the quarterfinals, San Miguel in the penultimate stage, then the Tropang Giga in the finale that ended with a 95-85 TNT win in Game 6 on Friday, Nov. 8.
Still, Cone admitted that the Gin Kings does not have a backup import for the mid-season conference.
(Justin Brownlee's showing in the PBA Season 49 Governors' Cup Finals is not up to his usual standard. | Photo (c) RM Chua/One Sports)
While hopeful Brownlee will join them anew, Cone is leaving the decision to the 36-year-old cager.
“It’s a little unfair for him at this point. He came from Indonesia, he got here, had to have this long conference. Now, he has to do Gilas and has to go in the next conference. That’s really going to be on him. But that’s his choice. We’re not going to make that decision for him. He’s going to decide on his own whether he wants play or not,” Cone said.
“At this point, we’re not looking at all for a backup. We don't have anybody in mind. Unless he tells us something, you’ll probably know before me.”
[RELATED STORY: Cone takes responsibility for Brownlee's subpar performance in PBA Finals: 'That’s on me']
In the meantime, Brownlee will rest for a week before joining Gilas’ training camp for the second window of the FIBA Asia Cup 2025 Qualifiers late November.
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“But we’ll see, give him a week or two to rest, and maybe he’ll change his tune,” said Cone.
“But right now he’s got to turn around in a week and start practicing with Gilas. So, he’s got Gilas next. And then, what? Three days after Gilas, the new conference starts.”
(With reports from Xander Cipriano/One Sports Digital)