(UPDATE) TNT is leaving no stones unturned in defending its PBA Commissioner’s Cup crown for Season 50 as it will be reinforced by NBA veteran Bol Bol.
The big man from South Sudan, son of the late former NBA player Manute Bol, arrived in the Philippines early Thursday, with team manager Jojo Lastimosa on hand to welcome their import.
Pictures of the 7-foot-3 Bol’s arrival were posted by TNT Tropang 5G’s official Facebook page.
“Yes, he has arrived,” Lastimosa said, in a brief reply to The Manila Times’ inquiry to confirm Bol’s arrival.
Negotiations to get Bol’s services had been ongoing for several weeks, until a deal was finally been reached.
Bol’s presence is expected to spice up the mid-season conference where the PBA allows each team to be reinforced by an import with no height restrictions.
Bol is taking the spot vacated by resident import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, who has led the TNT franchise to three league titles, including the Commissioner’s Cup and Governors’ Cup last season.
The do-it-all former Brooklyn Nets forward though suffered a right Achilles injury last December while playing for the Meralco Bolts in an East Asia Super League game against the Macau Black Bears in Isabela.
Selected 44th overall by the Miami Heat in the 2019 NBA Rookie Draft, Bol played three seasons for the Denver Nuggets, followed by the Orlando Magic, before winding up with the Phoenix Suns the past two seasons.
He had his best season in the NBA with the Magic in the 2022-23 season after posting career-best averages of 9.1 points, 5.8 rebounds and 1.2 blocks after logging 21 minutes per game.
He played 70 games in the regular season.
The 26-year-old Bol owns NBA career averages of 6.2 points and 3.5 rebounds in 202 games played.
Bol is the tallest import for the coming PBA Commissioner’s Cup, so far.