IN DEFENSE OF BOL BOL

I am not going to sugarcoat this. His name isn’t fit for the Philippine audience. It’s bad enough that he can’t have a conversation with anyone without mentioning his height or his ginormous wingspan; he also has to contend with the fact that everyone has high expectations for him.

Nuni Omot is one South Sudanese player who could have been a perfect matchup for him, but despite how well he played when he squared off against Gilas Pilipinas in the 2023 FIBA World Cup, he also got the boot because Magnolia couldn’t win with him as an import.

Again, imagine a guy like Bol Bol, who thinks the PBA is beneath him, now getting stressed out because he’s realizing that he’s a marked man among local players and jeering fans who think he has to carry TNT to a championship. I mean, that’s an enormous amount of pressure—even bigger than his height.

---

Bol Bol has drawn the ire of PBA fans for his work, despite topping the imports in points and blocks.

The thing about him is that he is a PBA import who should still be in the NBA. TNT is his first overseas assignment, and unlike most imports, he is only 26 years old, and it feels like his PBA stint is a demotion.

Yes, I call it as I see it.

When teams were looking for imports, there were rumors that San Miguel was eyeing guys like Dwight Howard, Kenneth Faried, and JaVale McGee. Ultimately, the Beermen settled on Marcus Lee, an import with his own notoriety because of how mediocre his debut showing was. Again, while there's the thought that they could have been lowballed, there is also the sense that they feel Filipino fans deserve to see these players as part of an exhibition, and not in the sense of them being team employees.

Through the years, we have seen arrogant imports playing in the PBA. Hell, there was a time when I was working for a network's marketing arm when I cringed whenever I had to talk with the Fil-Ams. During the height of the Fil-Am invasion in the late ’90s and early 2000s, I can definitely say that some Fil-foreigners were arrogant prima donnas. They would get annoyed whenever we asked them to promote the league, and in some ways, they may have been the reason why fans were turned off by the league at the start of the century. I can still remember one "import" back in the day when we asked him for a spiel, and he said, “Am I going to be paid when I do this?”

Again, this is why I remember the kindness of Direk Fritz Ynfante when he helped the marketing team persuade these Fil-Ams to just do the spiels because it was for the league’s good.

Anyway, even if the PBA’s game has advanced, there are still imports who see the league as third-tier compared to where they wanted to play. This is the obvious case with Bol Bol, who would have thrived in the NBA if he had played in the league three decades ago, when centers stuck to the inside, and his size meant something. If you think about it, it’s not like he changed his game when he got here. When guys like Justin Brownlee were crashing the boards, and players like Michael Gilmore were playing hard to stick to their Titan Ultra gigs, Bol Bol was just playing like he was still in the NBA.

In the NBA, Bol Bol has the size of a center, but he clearly plays like a small forward. This is why he goes for long-distance shots and side jumpers more than going hard in the paint. And I guess this is why the fans are critical of him.

In the Philippines, imports are supposed to fill the gaps. Since most PBA players are vertically challenged compared to their foreign counterparts, we are used to having imports play inside. And in the Commissioner’s Cup, where imports are almost rooted to the paint as guards either feed them the ball or go insane with their outside bombs, Bol Bol does the opposite and goes for the long bombs as well. I guess this is our problem. This mindset of ours is different from the NBA’s current trend of positionless basketball.

But even if we know the NBA’s current style, we still hold Bol Bol in high regard, which is another reason why we nitpick his game. There is a reason why Bol Bol is out of the NBA, and it’s not because his legs are ultra-brittle. He was supposed to be a lottery pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, but he dropped to the second round because scouts saw his thin frame, lack of defensive intensity, and low basketball IQ.

People, he is no Victor Wembanyama. Again, he is an NBA player who should still be playing in the NBA, but something is missing in his game, which is why he was out after six seasons. The mere fact that most imports would relish the chance of getting interviewed and being flocked by fans while he doesn’t is a testament to how he just sees the PBA as his version of the Shanghai Sharks.

But what I am saying here isn’t to knock Bol Bol, but to understand where he’s coming from.

And it’s not like he isn’t under extreme pressure already. I mean, come on, TNT won title after title during the import-based conferences because they had Rondae Hollis-Jefferson. Playing for TNT is pressure enough, and facing locals who want to posterize him through bumps, taunts, and in-your-face attacks adds even more. We have seen how players have reacted to him. Yes, he is an NBA player, but gone are the days when players were simply in awe, relishing the chance to share the court with them. I mean, even in international competitions alone, we have seen how our players react to top teams. Yes, we get beaten by them, but at times we believe that we can beat them as well. Bol Bol is in a similar situation, but in a solo setting.

Bol Bol wouldn’t have been on their radar if RHJ hadn’t suffered an ACL injury. And while, yes, Rondae is an NBA-caliber player who should also deserve an NBA spot, he had already embraced the import tag even before he joined TNT.

Then there’s the other pressure on Bol Bol, which is, unfortunately, his name. This isn’t just about his name prompting him to be an automatic meme, because, yes, his name means pubic hair in the Philippines. He is also the son of Manute Bol. For old-school PBA diehards, we all know his dad not just because of his height, but because he was a defensive demon. Bol averaged more blocks than points in most of his NBA seasons.

So the fact that he misses rebounding gimmes is enough for fans to label him as lazy.

But again, even the elder Bol struggled to keep his spot in the NBA, as he started and spent time in the CBA before gaining fame with the Golden State Warriors and the Philadelphia 76ers.

If I were to compare Bol Bol’s attitude in the game, I would look at him as the pre-Ginebra version of Japeth Aguilar. Smart Gilas coach Rajko Toroman once called Japeth a genetic freak and an even bigger star if only he had the basketball IQ of Chris Tiu. And while we have seen Japeth fumble plays now and then, his awesomeness was unlocked by Tim Cone, and he will go down as a future Hall of Famer if the PBA ever decides to have one.

For me, he can be part of the league’s 60 Greatest Players, but I think he’ll need to wait another decade because I would want guys like Dennis Espino, Olsen Racela, Yoyong Martirez, Ranidel De Ocampo, and other players before him to make the list first.

And again, back to Bol Bol, it’s not like it’s easy for a player to average 39 points and almost 16 rebounds in a game, even as an import. I think Chot Reyes just needs to play to his strengths. If Reyes endured Andray Blatche and even Jordan Clarkson, who was playing hero ball at times in the 2023 FIBA World Cup, there is a chance he can endure Bol Bol’s game.

One magic bunot that worked wonders for TNT in their game against NLEX was Mike Nieto. The former Ateneo Blue Eagle may not score as much, but he can certainly provide defense for Tropang 5G. If JP Erram or Kelly Williams get healthy, maybe they can help Bol Bol in the middle. If Bol Bol can’t commit to playing center when they have the ball, maybe these two can provide support whenever he chucks outside shots. But with these two in unrestricted free agency, other players Reyes can tap are Jio Jalalon and Kevin Ferrer, who are also defensive-minded players ready to provide baskets in case he gets harassed on offense.

I mean, I thought this was the reason why TNT got all of these players on their roster—to have options in case they need to cater to their import rather than do what most teams are doing, which is basically making the import fill their gaps.

Yes, I may sound critical, pointing out Bol Bol’s flaws, but it’s undeniable that despite all of this, he is still a menace on the court. And the best way to ease up on all the taunts is by winning games. I think Bol Bol’s mind is still on a possible 10-day contract, if that’s still possible. But if that’s the case and TNT still wants to play Bol Bol, then the best option for them is just to create a team to his liking—and again, judging by the fact that their coach is Chot Reyes, that may be easier compared to the other PBA coaches right now.

I guess, for me, Bol Bol has to eventually embrace the fact that he’s an import. If he thinks about it positively, this could work better for his NBA return. Again, the team needs him to be better, and 26 may still be a young age for a comeback, even if it feels like a nail in the coffin for his NBA dream. He can work on his flaws here, like his aforementioned lack of defensive awareness. And while I doubt the memes would go away, there is a chance for him to gain fans by winning the Best Import Award and a PBA title.

I mean, when was the last time he won a championship?

Let alone the star player of his team?

If he gives the PBA a chance, then this could work out for him.