MANILA, Philippines — Justin Brownlee owns six PBA titles. His stomach growls for a seventh, with his last ring coming in 2023.
He was the league’s import barometer from 2016 to 2023, the standard every reinforcement measured himself against. That ended when Rondae Hollis-Jefferson arrived.
Now the path to No. 7 runs through a familiar rival and a new problem.
Barangay Ginebra is back in the finals. So is TNT, now led by Chris McCullough.
There’s no debate: the PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals will turn on what Brownlee and McCullough do. Game 1 is Wednesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
“It’s our time,” Brownlee said, sounding like a man who’s done waiting. He believes Ginebra can take down TNT.
The belief isn’t empty. Vintage Brownlee is back. He carried the Gin Kings to the No. 2 seed, crushed No. 7 Phoenix in the quarterfinals, and outgunned Jaylen Johnson and Rain or Shine in a physical semis.
Even ROS coach Yeng Guiao, who rarely tips his cap, admitted: “Ang bigat ng nilalaro ni Brownlee”
But TNT won’t hand it over.
McCullough is a champion import himself. He doesn’t have Bol Bol’s height, but he’s longer than Brownlee – and the chemistry with TNT’s locals is already clicking.
TNT is 3-0 against Ginebra in their last three finals meetings. All of those were Hollis-Jefferson vs Brownlee.
This time it’s Brownlee vs McCullough. New matchup. New war.
The hunger is real on both sides.