THE PBA IMPORT EYE TEST

We’ve all established by now—Bol Manute Bol is the sheesh. He’s young, he knows exactly what he wants, and whether you like him or not, you have to respect what he brings to the court.

And that matters because right now, only two teams with imports can realistically match up with TNT and come out on top.

Rain or Shine already has a win over the Tropang 5G, although you could argue that came during Bol’s adjustment period to the PBA grind. The other team is Ginebra. Yes, Justin Brownlee is the smallest import in the conference, but with the Gin Kings, it’s never really about size—it’s about skill, composure, and shot-making. And in that department, Brownlee is still on another level.

That’s the issue with some of the other imports in the league. At least five of them right now are either offensive liabilities in the stretch or glorified role players. They don’t tilt the game the way a true elite import should.

And this ties into a bigger point—even in the UAAP. I’ve always been open to the idea of FSAs, but maybe it’s time to rethink the mold. Instead of always going for burly big men, why not bring in a deadshot shooter, an explosive slasher like Brownlee or Jordan Clarkson, or even a do-it-all forward like what La Salle once had in Ben Mbala? Variety matters.

A few days ago, I talked about Marcus Lee. Yes, he dropped 30 points in his last game, but that came after scoring a combined 14 in his first two outings. More importantly, San Miguel got blown out by TNT.

That alone tells you something.

Lee's 30 points weren't enough.

And then came Justin Patton.

The difference was immediate. With Lee, it felt like he was just there to complement June Mar Fajardo. But when Patton stepped in, it suddenly looked like Fajardo was the one complementing him. JMF is still JMF, no question—but Patton changes the dynamic. He plays with a calm presence, no sense of urgency or desperation, unlike what we saw from Lee, because he believes he can deliver.

Sure, critics might point out that Patton debuted against the lowly Macau Black Knights. But even against another struggling team, the Titan Ultra Giant Risers, Lee only managed four points.

The eye test matters here, and Patton clearly passes it.

What makes him intriguing is that he brings a mix of qualities you’d want in an import. He has the NBA experience similar to Kylor Kelley and Tony Mitchell, rebounds like Kelley, and moves with an athleticism close to Mitchell’s.

Now, is that enough to stop Bol Manute Bol?

Maybe.

Rain or Shine, with Jaylen Johnson and Yeng Guiao’s system, presents a different kind of challenge. Their “no superstar” approach makes them unpredictable, but it hasn’t translated into deep playoff success, partly because of roster limitations.

Ginebra, on the other hand, has championship experience. But their issue is size. They might have bodies to throw at Bol, but do they have the personnel to also deal with someone like Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser? BGR has been quietly effective, especially against bigger imports, and he’s been flying under the radar because of it.

In a way, this feels like a clash between eras of Gilas Pilipinas—Bol Manute Bol playing a role similar to what Andray Blatche once had, going up against players who represent both the old and new systems.

As for San Miguel, they might actually have the best tools to deal with TNT—size, experience, and structure. The problem? They always seem to have the right system, but the wrong import.

And that’s been the lingering issue for years now. For all their resources, the Beermen haven’t found a true long-term import anchor as they had in the days of Norman Black, Kenny Travis, Lamont Strothers, Arizona Reid, and Gabe Freeman.

If there’s one missing piece in June Mar Fajardo’s already legendary career, it’s a Grand Slam. He’s come close multiple times, but never quite sealed it. And maybe that’s the reality—San Miguel won’t get there unless they find the right import to lead them in import-laden conferences.

There’s no instant fix for that. But if they don’t start solving it now, it might be something they end up regretting later.