JUSTIN Brownlee will not be around, but defending champion Barangay Ginebra remains determined to retain the title in the PBA Season 48 Commissioner’s Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

With Brownlee still facing uncertainty after failing his doping test in the recent Asian Games in Hangzhou, the Kings will parade former Meralco import Tony Bishop against Converge FiberX starting at 8 p.m.

Bishop is the same high-caliber import who led the Bolts to a runner-up finish to the Gin Kings and Brownlee in the 2021 Governors’ Cup.

“I’m excited to be back. Our players can’t wait to start playing in the PBA again,” said Ginebra coach Tim Cone on the eve of the Kings’ debut against the FiberXers.

“We’re a process and system-oriented team. We take it day-by-day, working hard to get better. That’s our focus but our goal is always to win the championship,” said Cone, who steered the Brownlee-led GilasPilipinas to a historic gold medal campaign in the Hangzhou Games.

Cone, however, also shrugged off comparisons between Brownlee and Bishop..

“It’s like comparing all these players over the years to Michael Jordan (MJ). Nobody’s gonna be compared to MJ, and when you try to compare, everybody’s gonna fall short. So that’s gonna be the danger for us as an organization,”he said.

“That’s the danger we have to understand, that we can’t keep those comparisons. We just receive Tony for what he is and what he brings to us, and live with that.”

The addition of free agent recruit Maverick Ahanmisi is also a big plus for Cone and Ginebra.

“Mav (Ahanmisi) gives us versatility, he can be our lead guard, he gets teammates involved, he spreads the floor, he’s deadly in the open court,” explained Cone.

“Von (Pessumal) has been outstanding in practice. Scottie (Thompson), Japeth (Aguilar), Jamie (Malonzo), Christian, Stanley (Pringle), JD (Jared Dillinger), Nards (Pinto), Sidney (Onwubere), Jayson (David), Raymond (Aguilar), LA they’re all back,”said Cone, also mentioned the entry of rookies Ralph Cu and Don Gumaru

Ginebra will be facing a Converge team which dropped its first two assignments — 84-103 to Blackwater last Nov. 8 and 98-101 to TNT last Nov. 11.

In the 4 p.m. curtainraiser, Magnolia and NorthPort dispute the early lead.

The Hotshots defeated TNT, 110-102, and Phoenix Super LPG, 107-92, while the Batang Pier subdued Terrafirma, 108-103, and Rain or Shine, 113-103.

Late Wednesday, NLEX battled back from a 19-point deficit to beat San Miguel Beer, 117-113 in overtime at the Ynares Center.

Thomas Robinson led the way for NLEX with 42 points, 20 rebounds and five assists, while Kris Rosales added 19 points, including five triples.

Kevin Alas added 18 points, six of them in extension.

Terrence Romeo led San Miguel with 28 points, followed by CJ Perez with 25 points and June Mar Fajardo with 22 points and 16 rebounds.

Import Ivan Aska had 21 points and nine rebounds.

The scores:

NLEX (117) – Robinson 42, Rosales 19, Alas 18, Rodger 9, Anthony 8, Herndon 8, Nieto 4, Trollano 4, Semerad 4, Marcelo 1, Fajardo 0, Miranda 0
San Miguel (113) — Romeo 28, Perez 25, Fajardo 22, Aska 21, Ross 6, Enciso 5, Teng 2, Tautuaa 2, Brondial 2, Tautuaa 2, Bulanadi 0.
Quarterscores: 24-27, 47-62, 74-82, 105-105, 117-113.

Games Friday:

(Smart Araneta Coliseum)
4 p.m. — Magnolia vs. NorthPort
8 p.m. — Ginebra vs. Converge