Defending champion Barangay Ginebra brings back resident import Justin Brownlee, last season’s Best Import awardee, to lead its defense of the Philippine Basketball Association Commissioner’s Cup crown.
The 2019 PBA Philippine Cup is not yet done but teams are already looking forward to the coming Commissioner’s Cup.
Familiar faces are back in town as most squads already locked in imports heading to the mid-season conference.
More familiar faces are back as well with San Miguel Beer tapping former Best import Charles Rhodes, Rain or Shine getting its own former Best import in Denzel Bowles, Phoenix getting another former Best import awardee in Rob Dozier, NLEX going with Tony Mitchell and Blackwater taking Alex Stepheson.
All of those reinforcements have already made their mark in their previous tour of duties in the league.
Columbian, Meralco and NorthPort decided to acquire fresh faces.
The Dyip took former ASEAN Basketball League import Kyle Barone, the Bolts got Gani Lawal from the European leagues, while the Batang Pier shored up its frontcourt by getting bruiser Prince Ibeh, formerly of the Texas Longhorns in the NBA G-League.
Most of the mentioned reinforcements are already in town and practicing with their respective teams.
Teams are allowed to tap an import with no more than the height of 6’10’’.
As of this report, Meralco, Alaska, Magnolia and TNT KaTropa have yet to make final decisions regarding their imports.
Meanwhile, the Hotshots are currently gunning for a 2-0 lead against defending champion San Miguel in the best-of-seven finals of the Philippine Cup as of press time.