Missing the GOATs

Barangay Ginebra and TNT are in a holding pattern, waiting for their stars to return in time for a late surge in the PBA Governors Cup playoffs to start in October. Justin Brownlee is still recovering from the grind of last conference and the third FIBA World Cup Asia qualifying window while Rondae Hollis-Jefferson is working his way back to shape from an Achilles tendon surgery.

In Brownlee’s place, coach Tim Cone brought in Riley Grigsby. TNT tried out Darius Days for four games then coach Chot Reyes called in Hollis-Jefferson’s brother Rahlir. Both Grigsby and Rahlir know they’re playing on borrowed time. Once Brownlee and Rondae are cleared for take-off, they’ll be back on the roster.

Grigsby, 26, is trying hard to hold down the fort but lacks the Brownlee magic to inspire the Ginebra faithful. So far, Ginebra is 2-3 with a game against Blackwater at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium tonight. Grigsby had an auspicious start, firing 42 points but couldn’t deliver the win as Phoenix spoiled his debut, 81-78. In five games, Grigsby is averaging 25 points, 8.8 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 42:41 minutes. He failed to crack 20 points in two outings. Cone said Grigsby came with strong recommendations from his NBA G-League coaches. Before landing here, the only country he’d played in was Luxembourg. Grigsby played five years at Seattle University, gaining an extra season because of the pandemic. In the G-League, he averaged 5.8 points in 12 games for Santa Cruz and 2.0 points in eight games for Sioux Falls.

Days was out of shape and overweight when he checked in. Despite his NBA creds, he was a poor excuse for an import and Reyes shipped him out after back-to-back 10-point tallies. In the 2023-24 Commissioner’s Cup, Rahlir was recruited to take over from younger brother Rondae who fell injured. Rahlir averaged 37.3 points in three games and also played for TNT in EASL. He’s back in the same role as a filler. Rondae is expected to return when the quarterfinals begin on Oct. 7 after the Aug. 15-Oct. 6 break. Brownlee’s return is a question mark as he’s set to play in the fourth FIBA window and Asian Games. Will there be gas left in his tank for Ginebra?

While Brownlee and Rondae are out, San Miguel Beer’s George King is lording it over the imports as the leading scorer with a 36.4 clip. He’s also averaging 10.9 rebounds and 4.1 assists. His drawback is he’s prone to errors, averaging 5.3 turnovers. But King relieves JuneMar Fajardo of the burden of carrying San Miguel on his back. Against Converge last Wednesday, King scored 46 points and JMF, five although he had 21 rebounds and 10 assists. King, 32, was Phoenix’ second round pick in the 2018 NBA draft and played for the Suns and Dallas. He’s on his third PBA conference after playing for Blackwater in the Commissioner’s and Governors Cups two years ago. King’s a crowd pleaser, a fan fave and a showman, pointing to the heavens after a big basket and gesturing with two hands on his head as if to crown himself. How far the King will lead San Miguel remains to be seen and it may depend on when Brownlee and Rondae are back in action.