CAN this new batch of imports topple Justin Brownlee and defending champion Ginebra in the season-ending tourney?
At least an initial assessment will be made when the PBA Governors’ Cup kicks off on Jan. 22.
Aside from the 6-foot-5 Brownlee, KJ McDaniels, and Michael Qualls, Shawn Glover, and Du’Vaughn Maxwell are the old reliables in the reinforced tilt.
Brownlee will try to lead the Kings to the Promised Land anew, while McDaniels will look to get the job done for Meralco after the Bolts fell short of a quarterfinals berth in the Commissioner’s Cup.
Qualls will sit up for Rain or Shine this time after a stint with NorthPort in the same edition of the meet in 2019.
Glover is also back for another tour of duty with Blackwater, ditto with Du’Vaughn Maxwell for Phoenix.
Both imports made their maiden foray in Asia’s first play-for-pay league last year.
PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial said the Governors’ Cup will be shortened to give way for Gilas’ preparations for the 32nd Southeast Asian Games in Cambodia in May.
“Baka tayo pa rin ang sumali sa SEA Games. Baka maglaro tayo ng Thursday or may triple header.
“Kailangan bilisan natin para mabigyan ng time na makapag-practice (ang national team) bago mag SEA Games,” he added.
Expected to prove their worth in their debut in the pro league are NLEX’s Jonathon Simmons, Erik McCree of Magnolia, Converge’s Ethan Rusbatch, Marcus Weathers of San Miguel Beer, and TNT’s Jalen Hudson.
Simmons, 33, is an NBA veteran who saw action for the San Antonio Spurs, Orlando Magic, and the Philadelphia 76ers.
McCree is a European League campaigner, while Rusbatch is a member of the New Zealand Tall Blacks, who beat Gilas Pilipinas twice in the FIBA World Cup Asian qualifiers last year.
The Beermen and the Tropang Giga are pinning their hopes on Weathers and Hudson, respectively.
