2026 PBA COMMISSIONER'S CUP | IMPORT WATCH | BOL BOL

TNT | BOL BOL

LISTED | 7'3 – 220LBS

YEAR OF BIRTH | 1999

NBA DRAFT | 2019 | RD 2 – PICK 44 – MIAMI HEAT

NBA | DENVER NUGGETS, ORLANDO MAGIC, PHOENIX SUNS   

NBA G-LEAGUE | WINDY CITY BULLS  

Good grief.

I wonder what pile of moolah was unearthed by MVP for us to deserve this.

The difference between Tacko Fall and Bol Bol is in the optics. Tacko is seen as the sweet, gentle giant who feels like an attraction. Meanwhile, Bol Bol is viewed as a second-generation star who has the tools to succeed in the NBA but unfortunately lived in a time when being tall, slow, and gangly are considered flaws.

And I say “slow” with an asterisk. The thing about him is that he’s too thin to be a center and too “slow” to be a small forward. Because he’s 7’3”, he can’t dribble the ball as much compared to defenders who have a more normal center of gravity.

But if you think about it, given his size difference compared to the Filipino enforcers, I think his presence will be hella scary for them.

I’m actually excited to see Bol Bol in some random mall because it gives me a reason to stroll around either Araneta Center or SM Mall of Asia with his rookie card in my backpack. He is a former NBA veteran, a popular one at that, and the son of the iconic South Sudanese shot-blocking machine, Manute Bol. The dude is also a crowd draw, and that’s not just because of his insane name. Bol Bol has the skills to dominate thanks to his limitless range and ability to alter shots like his dad.

Despite this, however, all eyes are on whether or not he can deliver for the Tropa. TNT dominated the import-laden conferences with Rondae Hollis-Jefferson in tow. Sadly, the former three-time PBA Best Import suffered an ACL injury in the EASL. So yeah, despite his 7’3” height and insane wingspan, the dude needs to understand that he has giant shoes to fill because of what RHJ brought to TNT.

There’s also the matter of the PBA enforcers. What they lack in height, they make up for in physicality. I wonder if his 220-pound frame can withstand the constant body bumps that will be thrown at him, not just by the enforcers but by the other imports as well.

Justin Brownlee is the smallest import of the bunch at 6’6” or 6’7”, according to both his RealGM and Wikipedia pages, and he is also listed at 220 pounds.

Offense, however, will be his strong suit. As I mentioned, he has limitless range and, unlike in the NBA, Chot Reyes will give him the green light to chuck triples. No widespread arm can easily contest him, and getting too close might result in an automatic landing spot violation for his defenders.

Hell, he might even play a la Victor Wembanyama in the PBA because his body is an anomaly.