Justin Brownlee staying with Ginebra for Commissioner’s Cup says Tim Cone 

In a league where whispers travel fast and speculation often snowballs, Barangay Ginebra San Miguel wasted little time in shutting down talk surrounding the future of its most trusted reinforcement.

Justin Brownlee, the face of Ginebra’s import legacy and now a naturalized Filipino, will remain firmly in Gin Kings colors for the upcoming PBA Season 50 Commissioner’s Cup this March. Head coach Tim Cone made that stance unmistakably clear after online chatter linked Brownlee to a possible short-term stint with the Meralco Bolts.

“Of course he’s our import (for the PBA Comm’s Cup),” Cone said on Tuesday.

The clarification came on the heels of a rumor circulated by PBA Insider News, which claimed Meralco was exploring the idea of borrowing Brownlee for the import-laden conference. 

The reported logic behind the move was continuity — preserving Brownlee’s existing chemistry with the Bolts during their ongoing 2026 East Asia Super League (EASL) campaign.

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LOYAL SA GINEBRA!

Barangay Ginebra San Miguel head coach Tim Cone shoot down social media rumors that resident import Justin Brownlee is suiting up for Meralco Bolts in the PBA Season 50 Commissioner’s Cup. pic.twitter.com/kTaPLEXGYG

— Fastbreak (@fastbreaknewsph) January 20, 2026

According to the same buzz, Meralco was supposedly waiting on Ginebra management’s decision, with EASL import Ismael Romero being floated as a fallback option should the request be rejected.

Cone’s blunt response, however, effectively closed the door on any such scenario.

More than just a roster decision, Ginebra’s insistence on keeping Brownlee underscores how central he remains to the franchise’s identity and ambitions. Over the years, Brownlee has evolved from a reliable import into a cultural fixture — a steady closer in pressure moments, a locker-room leader, and a proven championship catalyst.

With the Commissioner’s Cup looming, Ginebra appears intent on continuity and familiarity, choosing stability over experimentation. And with Brownlee staying put, the Gin Kings signal that any title run this conference will once again be built around a partnership that has delivered time and time again.

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