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Tag: Riley Grigsby

  • New import Riley Grigsby gives Ginebra reason for optimism after debut 

    New import Riley Grigsby gives Ginebra reason for optimism after debut 

    Barangay Ginebra may have started its PBA Season 50 Governors’ Cup campaign with a loss, but it also discovered that its emergency import is more than capable of carrying the offensive load.

     

    Making his first appearance in the league, Riley Grigsby wasted little time proving he belonged, erupting for 42 points and 13 rebounds in an impressive debut despite Ginebra’s 81-78 setback to the unbeaten Phoenix Fuel Masters on Sunday.

     

    Tasked with replacing longtime resident import Justin Brownlee on short notice, Grigsby embraced the spotlight that naturally comes with wearing a Ginebra jersey.

     

    Rather than feeling overwhelmed by the expectations surrounding the league’s most popular franchise, the former NBA G League standout treated the opportunity like any other basketball game.

     

    “I wouldn’t say there’s pressure. Obviously, I knew what I was coming into. Everyone talks about Ginebra. I knew people who played for Ginebra in the past and they told me this is a historic organization,” he said.

     

    “It’s basketball at the end of the day. I just said I’ll come here and play my game and that’s what I try to do.”

     

    Grigsby’s performance gave Ginebra exactly what it hoped for after turning to him while Brownlee continues to recover from multiple injuries, including a lingering right hamstring strain and issues with his left knee. 

     

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    The 26-year-old import, who most recently suited up for the Sioux Falls Skyforce in the NBA G League, consistently found ways to score and keep the Gin Kings within striking distance throughout the contest.

     

    Unfortunately for Ginebra, the offensive support never arrived.

     

    Jeremiah Grey was the only other Gin King to score more than eight points, finishing with nine despite shooting just 3-of-14 from the field.

     

    As a team, Ginebra struggled to convert its opportunities, managing only 32.6 percent shooting, allowing Phoenix’s balanced attack to escape with the victory.

     

    The Fuel Masters leaned on five players who scored at least nine points, with import BJ Johnson leading the way with 23 markers to preserve the team’s unbeaten start.

     

    While the result spoiled Grigsby’s first night in the PBA, his explosive debut provided an encouraging sign for Ginebra as it navigates the conference without Brownlee.

     

    If his opening performance is any indication, the Gin Kings have found an import capable of keeping them competitive while waiting for their longtime franchise reinforcement to return.

     

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  • Phoenix stays perfect after surviving Riley Grigsby’s 42-point explosion against Barangay Ginebra 

    Phoenix stays perfect after surviving Riley Grigsby’s 42-point explosion against Barangay Ginebra 

    Phoenix Super LPG proved that its unbeaten start is no fluke, weathering a furious late rally from Barangay Ginebra San Miguel to escape with an 81-78 victory and extend its winning streak to three games in the PBA Season 50 Governor’s Cup on Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

     

    The Fuelmasters entered the matchup with an opportunity to seize sole possession of the Group B lead and capitalized on a Ginebra squad still adjusting to a new import while missing star guard Scottie Thompson. 

     

    Phoenix dictated the tempo for most of the contest before surviving a dramatic finish sparked by Riley Grigsby, whose spectacular debut nearly turned the game around.

     

    Import BJ Johnson once again provided the offensive spark for Phoenix, finishing with 23 points, while Ricci Rivero continued his strong campaign with 16 points and nine rebounds in a balanced effort that lifted the Fuelmasters to a perfect 3-0 record.

     

    Phoenix head coach Charles Tiu admitted his team wanted to take advantage of the circumstances surrounding Ginebra.

     

    “We wanted to try to catch them off guard,” said Phoenix coach Charles Tiu.


    “It’s the first game with [a new] import and wala is Scottie Thompson. We wanted to step on the gas and they’re Ginebra for a reason. They didn’t wanna quit and they made a big scare,” he added.

     

    The Fuelmasters appeared to have the game under control after stretching the lead to 81-74 with only 18 seconds left, but Grigsby had other plans.

     

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    Making an immediate impact in his first game for Barangay Ginebra, the American import knocked down back-to-back baskets to slash the deficit to just three points with six seconds remaining, giving the Gin Kings one last opportunity to steal the game.

     

    Ginebra’s final possession, however, fell short when Jeremiah Gray missed a three-point attempt that could have either forced overtime or delivered a stunning victory via the league’s four-point shot, allowing Phoenix to hold on for the win.

     

    Despite the loss, Grigsby announced his arrival in impressive fashion by pouring in 42 points in his debut. His scoring outburst kept Ginebra within striking distance throughout the closing stretch, but the Gin Kings ultimately dropped their first game with their new reinforcement.

     

    Compounding Ginebra’s frustrations, head coach Tim Cone was ejected late in the contest after receiving his second technical foul.

     

    With momentum firmly on its side, Phoenix now turns its attention to Rain or Shine on Tuesday, July 21, aiming to stretch its unbeaten run to four games. Ginebra, meanwhile, will look to bounce back when it faces Blackwater on Friday, July 24.

     

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

    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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    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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