DON’T look now, but all 12 imports seeing action in the 2021 PBA Governors’ Cup — the season-ending conference in the coronavirus-interrupted 46th season — have now arrived in time for the Dec. 8 opening at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig.

This will be the first time that imports will be able to strut their wares since the 2019 PBA Governors’ Cup won by Barangay Ginebra in five exciting games over Meralco.

Of course, Justin Brownlee of Ginebra will be the most notable reinforcements.

The 33-year-old Brownlee is suiting up for the Kings for the eighth time after leading the team to the PBA championships in the 2016, 2017 and 2019 Governors’ Cup and 2018 Commissioner’s Cup.

But Brownlee is not the only balik-imports this conference.

The other comebacking imports, who have made their presence felt in Asia’s first play-for-pay league are:

— Brandon Brown, who will now play for San Miguel Beer after a stint with Phoenix Super LPG.
— KJ McDaniels, who will suit up for NLEX after playing for Talk N Text.
— Olu Ashaolu, who will join Alaska Milk after seeing action for NLEX.
— Paul Harris, who will reinforce Phoenix after playing for Talk N Text and Ginebra.
— Henry Walker, who will strut his wares for Rain or Shine.
— Mike Harris, who will now shoot the ball for Magnolia after playing for Alaska 8 in 2018.

There are also new faces coming.

Philippine Cup champion Talk N Text will pin its hopes for back-to-back titles with import McKenzie Moore, who is in his first tour of duty in the PBA.

The 29-year-old native of Santa Rosa, California is actually a familiar face to local basketball fans after playing for both the Tropang Giga in the 2019 East Asia Super League in Macau, China and Mighty Sports in the 2019 Jones Cup title in Chinese Taipei.

Moore also saw action in New Zealand, Belgium, Greece, Russia, Turkey and Poland.

Other PBA first-timers are Tony Bishop of the Meralco, Cameron Forte of the Northport, Antonio Hester of Terrafirma and Jaylen Bond of the Blackwater.

Bishop is actually Meralco’s second choice after the Bolts’ original pick, former NBA player Shabazz Muhammad, was unable to travel to the country due to a personal emergency.

A member of Panama’s national team, the 32-year-old Bishop will now try to fill in the shoes of three-time PBABest Import Allen Durham.

Durham, who led the Bolts to a runner-up finish to Ginebra in the 2019 PBA Governors’ Cup, failed to rejoin the team due to his commitment to play for the Ryukyu Golden Kings in Japan B.League.

Forte, a naturalized player of Jordan, is also no stranger to local basketball fans.

The Arizona native played for the Formosa Dreamers in the Asean Basketball League (ABL), finishing with 29 points and 21 rebounds in a 93-117 setback to San Miguel-Alab Pilipinas at the Sta. Rosa Multi-Purpose Arena in Laguna in February 2018.

As Jordan’s naturalized player, he also scored 22 points against Gilas Pilipinas in the King’s Cup.

Terrafirma’s 6-6 import, Hester is a little-known journeyman whose basketball career has taken him to several countries like Iceland, Finland and Spain.

Blackwater reinforcement Bond could easily be one nof the biggest surprises in the league, if early reports are to be believed.

The 28-year-old Bond saw action for Westchester Knicks in the G League during the 2016-2017 season where he averaged 7.5 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 1.3 assists in 45 games with the New York Knicks- affiliated squad.

It’s still too early to tell, but this year’s batch of imports promises to provide another first-class entertainment for local basketball fans.

NOTES — – Happy 33rd wedding anniversary to my lovely wife Liza last Dec. 3. Liza and I exchanged wedding vows at the National Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes in Kanlaon St., Quezon City on Dec. 3, 1988 and the union produced four wonderful children and now, one amazing grandson. Two of my wedding sponsors — the late PBA Commissioner Rudy Salud and former RFM Swift team manager Elmer Yanga — are also two of the most well-liked basketball officials.

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