Barangay Ginebra gets frontcourt boost with Isaac Go’s comeback

In a Commissioner’s Cup where towering imports often dictate matchups, the Kings chose familiarity over height, bringing back Justin Brownlee despite the absence of a size limit. 

Brownlee has built a legacy in red and white, but at 6-foot-6, he will once again look up at many of his fellow reinforcements across the league. This time, however, he won’t be standing alone underneath.

After more than a year of rehabilitation, Isaac Go is finally set to make his long-awaited debut for Ginebra — not as a headline-grabbing acquisition, but as a structural solution. The 6’7 big man gives the Kings something they quietly missed, reliable size to withstand the nightly pounding inside. Coach Tim Cone confirmed the development as the team gears up for the conference grind.

“We got Isaac Go coming back. We have an extra big along with our other two bigs,” said the Ginebra mentor, referring to veterans Japeth Aguilar and Troy Rosario. “So we’ll have a three-headed monster to try to contain these big other imports.”

“Three-headed monster” hints at a tactical shift. Rather than asking Aguilar to anchor extended minutes or forcing Rosario to battle heavier counterparts possession after possession, Ginebra can now rotate length, preserve energy, and deploy size situationally. 

In a tournament built around dominant imports, depth up front could spell the difference between surviving and advancing.

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Barangay Ginebra – Unofficial Roster
PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup

00 – Maverick Ahanmisi
1 – Troy Rosario
2 – Jeremiah Gray
4 – RJ Abarrientos
9 – Scottie Thompson
10 – John Pinto
11 – Isaac Go (Injured)
14 – Stephen Holt
18 – Ralph Cu
23 – Raymond Aguilar
24 – Jayson David
25 –… pic.twitter.com/CcEmFy74l8

— Barangay Ginebra San Miguel (@brgyginebraphl) September 17, 2025

Go’s journey to this point has unfolded almost in silence. Acquired in a trade with Terrafirma alongside Stephen Holt in exchange for Stanley Pringle and Christian Standhardinger, the former Ateneo standout has yet to play a single game for the Kings. 

In the time it took for his ACL to heal, Ginebra reached two finals, roster pieces moved on, and the league’s competitive balance shifted. Now, the timeline finally catches up with him.

Ginebra deputy Olsen Racela shared that Go has already rejoined team drills, inching closer to full clearance.

“May isang clearance na lang which would come within the week. Once may go-signal na, puwede na siyang sumali sa scrimmages,” Racela said.

With Cone currently attending to national team duties with Gilas Pilipinas during the FIBA window, Racela and fellow assistant Johnny Abarrientos have overseen practices — integrating Go carefully, deliberately, and with long-term durability in mind.

For Ginebra, this isn’t just about adding a player back into the rotation. It’s about restoring balance to a roster that chose heart and continuity over sheer height. Brownlee will still give up inches on most nights. That reality won’t change.

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