Ginebra import Justin Brownlee added another milestone to his storied PBA career after leading the Gin Kings to the Commissioner's Cup championship, a fitting achievement in his 10th season in Asia's oldest professional basketball league.

 

As Brownlee's résumé continues to grow, discussions about his place among the greatest imports in PBA history have intensified.

 

With the league celebrating its rich 50-year legacy, comparisons with other legendary reinforcements are inevitable.

 

 

Alta Sports takes a closer look at three iconic imports, whether longtime rivals or stars from previous eras, to see how Brownlee's achievements stack up against some of the best foreign players ever to grace the PBA.

 

 

Few imports challenged Justin Brownlee as consistently as Allen Durham, whose rivalry with the Barangay Ginebra star became one of the PBA's most compelling storylines.

 

Their first championship showdown came in the 2016 Governors' Cup, where Brownlee delivered one of the most iconic shots in league history.

 

His game-winning three-pointer over the reigning Best Import Durham lifted Ginebra to the title and ended the franchise's eight-year championship drought.

 

Durham bounced back strongly the following year, capturing the 2017 Best Import award and steering Meralco back to the Finals.

 

The rematch with Ginebra lived up to expectations, with both teams pushing the series to a winner-take-all Game 7.

 

In the deciding game at the Philippine Arena, Brownlee once again rose to the occasion. He finished with 23 points, eight rebounds, five assists, and three blocks as Ginebra escaped with a 101-96 victory to retain the Governors' Cup crown.

 

Despite the loss, Durham turned in a remarkable performance, tallying 26 points, 24 rebounds, and nine assists. The two stars met for a third time in the 2019 Governors' Cup Finals.

 

Durham claimed his third Best Import award, but Brownlee and Ginebra once again proved superior, defeating Meralco in five games to secure another championship and complete a perfect 3-0 Finals record against the Bolts' star import.

 

 

 

Hollis-Jefferson remains that one opponent Brownlee has yet to consistently solve.

 

Since arriving in the PBA, the TNT import has emerged as Brownlee's toughest contemporary rival, leading Tropang 5G to multiple championships at Ginebra's expense.

 

Hollis-Jefferson matched Brownlee and Durham with three Best Import awards, claiming the honor in the 2023 Governors' Cup, 2024 Governors' Cup, and 2025 Commissioner's Cup.

 

Not coincidentally, TNT captured the championship in all three conferences, highlighting the former NBA forward's immense impact on the franchise's success.

 

The first Finals clash between Brownlee and Hollis-Jefferson came in the 2023 Governors' Cup, where TNT denied Ginebra's title bid.

 

Hollis-Jefferson delivered a dominant all-around performance in the series-clinching Game 6, finishing with 27 points, 13 rebounds, six assists, and two steals in a 97-93 victory.

 

TNT repeated its success in the 2024 Governors' Cup, with Hollis-Jefferson once again spearheading the team's championship drive. His ability to impact both ends of the floor continued to make life difficult for Brownlee and the Gin Kings.

 

The trend carried over into the 2025 Commissioner's Cup, where Hollis-Jefferson guided Tropang 5G to another title. With three championships and three Best Import awards in as many seasons, he has firmly established himself as a Brownlee-stopper and one of the most dominant imports of the modern PBA era.

 

 

No discussion about the PBA's greatest imports would be complete without Bobby Parks, the player whose name now adorns the league's Best Import award.

 

Parks remains the most decorated import in PBA history with seven Best Import awards, a record he established during a dominant stretch from 1987 to 1992.

 

During a 12-year PBA career with Anejo (now Barangay Ginebra), San Miguel, and Shell, Parks captured three championships while amassing more than 9,000 points, 3,000 rebounds, and 1,000 assists.

 

Perhaps the most staggering testament to his greatness came in 1989, when Parks averaged 52.6 points across 23 games. In recognition of his immense contributions to the sport, Parks became only the second foreign player inducted into the PBA Hall of Fame.