Justin Brownlee finally joined preparations for Barangay Ginebra San Miguel’s title defense in the PBA Governors’ Cup.
A video posted by Gin Kings veteran Joe Devance on his Instagram account showed Brownlee, already in his practice gear, arriving at Ginebra’s training facility at the Upper Deck Sports Center in Ortigas.
Brownlee, who arrived in Manila a few days ago, hopes to maximize the short amount of time to reacquaint with the team as Ginebra hopes to replicate the success during its triumph in the last staging of the Governors’ Cup in 2019.
Ginebra is out for redemption after barely making the quarterfinals of the Philippine Cup and subsequently being eliminated by eventual champion TNT.
The Gin Kings made one trade following the disappointing campaign with the acquisition of Sidney Onwubere from the NorthPort Batang Pier.
Ginebra opens its campaign on Dec. 12 against Alaska at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City.
It will be the eighth conference that Ginebra will parade Brownlee, who helped the league’s most popular ballclub to four championships.
Brownlee averaged 29.1 points, 12.8 rebounds, 6.8 assists, 1.9 steals and 1.4 blocks for the Gin Kings during the 2019 Governors’ Cup.
The 33-year-old spent last year in the United Arab Emirates with the PBA reduced to a lone Philippine Cup season due to the pandemic, leading Al Sharjah to the championship.