San Miguel Corporation sports director Alfrancis Chua wants his teams to start looking for imports as early as now for this year’s PBA Governors’ Cup.
The league aims to hold two conferences for its 2021 season and one of them is the aforementioned tilt, which was last held in 2019 that saw Barangay Ginebra San Miguel take the crown at the expense of rivals Meralco in five games.
Only the Philippine Cup was held last year in a bubble setting in Clark as the season got shortened by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
Clouds of uncertainties remain floating above the new season but the PBA is optimistic that it could push through with its plans, especially now that teams have been allowed to conduct scrimmages in GCQ and MGCQ areas.
“I’m gonna advise the coaches of the other teams na ngayon pa lang, maghanap na sila,” Chua told The Chasedown, Saturday.
Chua wants the other SMC-owned teams in San Miguel Beer and Magnolia to look for imports this early as it could be challenging to secure the services of foreign reinforcements, given the challenging situation at present.
“‘Yung ibang team, siguro meron na sila sa ulo nila kung sino,” he said.
“But it’s not easy to get an import right now because of the rules, because of COVID.”
The Gin Kings, meanwhile, won’t have much of a problem as they already have resident import Justin Brownlee willing to come over in Manila.
Chua, also Ginebra’s governor, shared that the former Best Import has been reaching out to him expressing his desire to come back to Manila.
Brownlee, who has led the Barangay to four PBA championships, last played for Al Sharjah in the UAE National Basketball League. He signed with them last December — just days after the Gin Kings ruled the bubble play.
“Justin Brownlee, kahit all-Filipino pa lang baka dumating na rito.
“Alam mo sasabihin ko sa inyo tawag nang tawag yun. ‘I wanna come home.’ Ito talaga bahay niya eh. Gusto na umuwi rito,” Chua said.
