Ginebra turns to Riley Grigsby while Justin Brownlee focuses on recovery ahead of PBA Governors’ Cup 

Barangay Ginebra San Miguel will begin another PBA Governors’ Cup campaign in unfamiliar fashion.

For the first time in years, the Gin Kings are set to open the import-laden conference without Justin Brownlee leading the charge, opting instead to prioritize the veteran’s health after a physically demanding stretch that saw him play through injuries for both club and country.

Head coach Tim Cone confirmed that 26-year-old American forward Riley Grigsby has been tapped as Ginebra’s temporary reinforcement for the PBA Season 50 Governors’ Cup while Brownlee works his way back to full fitness.

“He’s 26 years old and has had NBA G League experience and has come with some strong recommendations from his coaches there,” said Cone.

While Grigsby will suit up for the Kings’ opening games, his stay with the franchise is not expected to be permanent.

Cone stressed that Brownlee remains Ginebra’s primary import once he is medically cleared to return.

Brownlee, now the PBA’s only seven-time champion import, was originally expected to spearhead Ginebra’s bid for another Governors’ Cup title—a tournament the franchise has captured four times since 2016. Instead, the team chose to give its longtime cornerstone time to recover after months of playing through lingering injuries.

The decision also explains Brownlee’s absence from Gilas Pilipinas’ final game of the first round of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 Asian Qualifiers. Without their naturalized star, the Philippines suffered a 92-49 defeat to Australia in Perth on Monday.

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OUR NEW IMPORT!

RILEY GRIGSBY

WELCOME TO GINEBRA RILEY!#NSD pic.twitter.com/mASSU1HSTK

— Barangay Ginebra (@GinebrakingsNSD) July 9, 2026

In explaining Brownlee’s absence, the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas released a medical update last July 5.

“Justin Brownlee will miss the game against Australia due to hamstring strain and peroneal tendinopathy on his right leg and left knee swelling and cartilage defects,” the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas said in a statement.

Brownlee had already been dealing with a hamstring issue dating back to the PBA Season 50 Commissioner’s Cup quarterfinals against Phoenix. Rather than sit out, he pushed through the pain and eventually helped Ginebra defeat TNT in a seven-game Finals series to capture another championship.

With Brownlee sidelined, Ginebra once again turns to a short-term replacement—something the franchise has rarely needed over the past decade. The last notable instance came during the 2023-24 Commissioner’s Cup when Tony Bishop filled in while Brownlee served a FIBA-imposed suspension.

This time, the responsibility falls on Grigsby as the California-born forward arrives with a diverse basketball resume despite being only 26 years old. A full Division I scholarship athlete at Seattle University, Grigsby first gained experience in FIBA 3×3 competition before moving overseas to play for AB Contern in Luxembourg during the 2024-25 season.

He later earned an opportunity in the NBA G League, beginning the 2025-26 campaign with the Santa Cruz Warriors before finishing the season with the Sioux Falls Skyforce.

Listed at approximately 6-foot-5, Grigsby is expected to arrive in Manila in time for Ginebra’s conference opener against Phoenix on July 19 at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.

As Brownlee continues his rehabilitation, the Kings will rely on their new reinforcement to help keep the team competitive during the opening stretch of the tournament.

Barangay Ginebra is part of Group A in the PBA Season 50 Governors’ Cup together with Phoenix, Magnolia, Rain or Shine, Meralco, Blackwater, and guest team Macau.

For now, Grigsby has one clear assignment and that is to keep Ginebra afloat until its most decorated import is ready to reclaim his place.

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