The defending champions are taking no chances as they gear up for another run in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup.
With original reinforcement Rondae Hollis-Jefferson sidelined by a ruptured Achilles tendon, TNT Tropang 5G moved swiftly to secure a new import, tapping former NBA big man Bol Bol to help anchor its title defense in the season-opening mid-conference tournament.
The 7-foot-3 Bol arrived in the country on Thursday, nearly three weeks before the Commissioner’s Cup tips off on March 11, and was personally welcomed at the airport by team manager Jojo Lastimosa—a clear signal of how high the franchise’s expectations are for its latest acquisition.
At 26, the American-South Sudanese standout is arguably the most recognizable import set to suit up in the import-laden conference. Drafted in the second round of the 2019 NBA Draft by the Miami Heat, Bol did not see action with the Heat but went on to play for the Denver Nuggets, Orlando Magic, and most recently the Phoenix Suns.
His stint with TNT marks Bol’s first professional stop outside the NBA—and it comes with immense pressure. He is stepping into the role vacated by Hollis-Jefferson, who powered the Tropang 5G to last season’s Commissioner’s Cup crown despite being undersized in a no-height-limit conference.
A three-time Best Import and a first-round pick of the Portland Trail Blazers in 2015, Hollis-Jefferson had been lined up for another tour of duty with TNT before suffering a season-ending injury while on loan to the Meralco Bolts in the East Asia Super League Home and Away Season 3—an unfortunate setback expected to keep him out for at least a year.
That sudden absence opened the door for Bol Bol. Now, the spotlight shifts to whether his size, skill set, and NBA pedigree can help TNT overcome the loss of a proven winner and keep its grip on the Commissioner’s Cup throne.