MANILA, Philippines - Barangay Ginebra has tapped Justin Brownlee to replace injured import Paul Harris after Harris fractured his right thumb during the team's Governors' Cup opening game against GlobalPort on Saturday, July 16.
The news was confirmed by player agent Sheryl Reyes on her Twitter account, while Ginebra coach Tim Cone tells Rappler that Brownlee will be available for the team's next game on Sunday, July 24 against the Alaska Aces at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Brownlee, 28, of Tifton, Georgia played college ball at St. John's University and went undrafted in 2011, and has since bounced around the NBA Summer League for the New York Knicks and Charlotte Hornets organizations, with stints in the D-League with the Maine Red Claws and Erie BayHawks before signing to play in Italy in 2014.
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Brownlee, listed as 6-foot-7 but described by some outlets as closer to 6-foot-6, was assessed by NBADraft.net as a "playmaker off the dribble, facing up bigger defenders and slashing to the bucket," but added that "he does many things adequately, but no standout skill and that he "goes through games of invisibility and passivity."
Harris turned in 14 points and 10 rebounds in 33 minutes during Ginebra's 93-81 win over GlobalPort but underwent surgery Sunday at St. Luke’s Hospital, sidelining him for at least 4 weeks. (READ: Ginebra import Paul Harris out at least 4 weeks after thumb surgery) – with reports from Jane Bracher/Rappler.com