AFTER leading Barangay Ginebra to its 15th PBA championship following a masterful 34-point, 12-assist effort in their 114-99 victory over the Bay Area Dragons last Sunday, Justin Brownlee and the Kings get a two-week breather before returning to action for the PBA Governors’ Cup.

Brownlee, who was named as “Best Import” in the import-flavored conference, will be back to action when the Kings open their campaign for back-to-back titles against Rain or Shine Elasto Pinaters on Feb. 5 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

And based on his performance in the blockbuster best-of-seven championship series against the Hong Kong-based Dragons, the 34-year-old Brownlee remains as the yardstick for Governors’ Cup import.

Brownlee, whose became eligible to play for Gilas Pilipinas in the coming 2023 FIBA World Cup after his naturalization paper was signed into law by President Marcos last Jan. 12, will get his first test against balik-import Michael Qualls of Rain or Shine on Feb. 5.

The 6-4 Qualls is best remembered for leading NorthPort Batang Pier to the semis of the 2019 Governors; Cup, beating top seed NLEX, 2-0, in the quarterfinals before losing to the Brownlee-led Ginebra in four games.

Now with Rain or Shine, Qualls gets another chance to face off with Brownlee right on Ginebra’s first assignment.

Aside from Brownlee and Quallts, the other returning imports are KJ McDaniels (Meralco), Shawn Glover (Blackwater), Du’Vaughn Maxwell (Phoenix) and Cameron Clark (San Miguel Beer).

Among the new suiting up this conference are Jonathon Simmons (NLEX). Jordan Williams (Terrafirma), Marcus Weathers (NorthPort), Ethan Rusbatch (Converge), Erik McCree (Magnolia) and Jalen Hudson (TNT).

A PBA. com report said Simmons has the most impressive credentials of the six new imports, having played 258 games in the NBA for the San Antonio Spurs, Orlando Magic, and Philadelpia 76ers.

The PBA Governors’ Cup formally kicks off on Sunday with Meralco taking on Rain or Shine and Converge battling NorthPort.

After a two-day break, the PBA resumes with its heavy five-day a week schedule on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.

PBA commissioner Willie Marcial said the compressed schedule is to give way to the preparation of Gilas Pilipinas in the 2023 Southeast Asian Games in Cambodia in May.

Last year, the PBA also used the same format in the Philippine Cup as the national team prepared for the FIBA World Cup Qualifiers.

Games Sunday:

(Philsports Arena)
4:30 p.m. — Meralco vs. Rain or Shine
6:45 p.m. — Converge vs. NorthPort