MANILA — Barangay Ginebra San Miguel has turned to NBA G League veteran Riley Grigsby as its temporary import for the PBA Season 50 Governors’ Cup, with head coach Tim Cone expressing confidence that the 26-year-old has the credentials to keep the Kings competitive while resident import Justin Brownlee recovers from multiple leg injuries.
Cone said Grigsby earned Ginebra’s confidence after receiving strong endorsements from coaches during his NBA G League stint, making him the team’s choice to fill the void left by Brownlee.
“He’s 26 years old and has had NBA G League experience and has come with some strong recommendations from his coaches there,” Cone said. “We’re excited about working with him.”
Grigsby suited up for the Santa Cruz Warriors before joining the Sioux Falls Skyforce during the 2025-26 NBA G League season. Prior to that, he played professionally in Luxembourg after completing his collegiate career at Seattle University.
The California native was tapped after Brownlee was ruled out indefinitely as he continues to recover from a hamstring strain, peroneal tendinopathy in his right leg, and swelling and cartilage damage in his left knee.
Brownlee had been playing through the hamstring injury since the PBA Commissioner’s Cup quarterfinals and still helped Ginebra capture the championship before the team decided to give its longtime reinforcement time to fully heal.
The same injuries also forced the naturalized Filipino star to miss Gilas Pilipinas’ final first-round game against Australia in the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 Asian Qualifiers earlier this week.
It remains uncertain whether Grigsby will stay with Ginebra for the entire Governors’ Cup campaign or only serve as Brownlee’s temporary replacement while the latter completes his rehabilitation.
Grigsby is expected to arrive in Manila in time for the Kings’ conference-opening clash against the Phoenix Fuel Masters on July 19 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum./PN
