Ginebra, Blackwater tap old reliables Brownlee, Walker

MANILA, Philippines — Familiar faces for immediate results?

Hoping to end their misery in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup, Barangay Ginebra and Blackwater are recalling their beloved imports halfway through the conference.

In a Twitter post Monday morning, player agent Sheryl Reyes revealed that Justin Brownlee is returning to Barangay Ginebra, while Henry Walker will be reuniting with Blackwater Elite. Both are managed by Reyes herself.

Brownlee, who was instrumental in the Gin Kings’ last two Governors’ Cup title runs, will be replacing Charles Garcia and help in the effort to improve the crowd darlings’ 1-3 record in the midseason joust.  He is most remembered for a buzzer-beating triple that ended Barangay Ginebra’s championship drought two years ago.

Walker, also a tried and tested import, will be replacing the towering Jarrid Famous and reprising his role in the Blackwater’s interior in hopes to arrest a 0-5 skid. This marks his fourth tour of duty in the PBA, the first two being with the Alaska Aces, followed by a stint with the NLEX Road Warriors.

Brownlee and Walker are not only the high-profile names to make a return in the league as Renaldo Balkman, the Puerto Rican import who was banned by the league for choking then Petron teammate Arwind Santos, was again tapped by the San Miguel franchise, also in the hope of ending their dry spell.

Brownlee is expected to make his conference debut against the team he beat twice for a title, the Meralco Bolts, on June 1. Walker, for his part, will have his on May 30 when the Elite take on the slumping NLEX Road Warriors.