Bol finally gets chance to show what hype is all about as TNT battles ROS
After all the talk and hype surrounding his arrival, it’s now time for Bol Bol to prove why TNT sought his services for the PBA Commissioner’s Cup.
The spotlight will shine brightly on the 7-foot-3 former NBA player on Friday as the Tropang 5G open defense of their midseason conference title against a Rain or Shine team that hopes to map out a master plan to spoil his much-awaited debut.
Tip-off is at 5:15 p.m., before the opening assignment of crowd favorite Barangay Ginebra against winless guest team Macau Black Knights at 7:30 p.m.
“I appreciate the love and it’s very mutual, especially on my end, too,” Bol said a few weeks ago on the team’s social media account when asked about his celebrated PBA entry.
Legit NBA vet
The son of the late 7-foot-7 Manute Bol, also an ex-NBA cager, Bol is eager to strut his wares in the conference in which most teams have taken advantage of the absence of a height limit.
His NBA stints with the Denver Nuggets, Orlando Magic and Phoenix Suns have shown Bol’s knack as a perimeter player and being versatile, prompting one PBA coach and another import in Magnolia’s Nuni Omot to compare him to San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama.
Whether he’s a poor man’s version of Wemby or not, Bol is ready to take on what’s ahead as TNT aims to retain the title it won last year with another player with NBA pedigree in Rondae Hollis-Jefferson.
“I just can’t wait to see what comes forward,” Bol said.
What comes forward first is Rain or Shine, which will have the arduous task of dealing with Bol, especially with coach Yeng Guiao opting to go with a smaller import in 6-foot-9 Jaylen Johnson.
Johnson made a good account of himself against the Black Knights in Saturday’s 116-109 win in faraway Rodriguez, Rizal, with 29 points and 24 rebounds and he is expected to be the main man in trying to put out all the stops on Bol.
Guiao could also go with his locals in another ploy to try and put Bol out of his comfort level, with Caelan Tiongson or Jhonard Clarito as the likely ones to be handed the yeoman’s job.
“Literally, we have to be better-spaced,” said Guiao.
Shortest in the lot
Ginebra, on the other hand, tries to start off the campaign with a victory, and perhaps proof that it can compete, sticking with resident import Justin Brownlee as its guy for the conference.
Brownlee enters his 13th conference donning his famous No. 32 jersey as the shortest import at 6-foot-5, but coach Tim Cone believes the Gin Kings can hold their own even with the disadvantage.
Macau, meanwhile, is hard-pressed to finally enter the win column after dropping its first two matches at the hands of Converge and Rain or Shine.
