Can June Mar Fajardo Still Dominate? PBA Season 50 Brings No Height Limit for Imports — Including 7'3" Bol Bol
June Mar Fajardo has been the undisputed king of the PBA for nearly a decade — nine MVPs, 13 Best Player of the Conference awards, and five Finals MVP trophies. But Season 50's Commissioner's Cup is about to test the 6-foot-10 Cebuano giant like never before: there's NO height limit on imports this time, and the reinforcements coming in are absolutely massive.
The biggest name — literally — is Bol Bol, the 7-foot-3 NBA veteran who will suit up for TNT Tropang 5G. The 26-year-old son of the late Manute Bol played six seasons in the NBA with Denver, Orlando, and Phoenix. He replaces Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, who tore his Achilles in December. With Bol Bol's length, rim protection, and inside scoring, TNT just got even scarier.
But TNT isn't the only team going big. Terrafirma is bringing in 7-foot Mubashar Ali, Blackwater has 6-foot-11 Daniel Ochefu, and even the guest Macau Black Bears will have 7-foot-6 Maltese center Sam Deguara — the tallest import the PBA has ever seen. Every team is loading up sa height department, and the paint is about to get very crowded.
Fajardo, true to form, isn't backing down. "We will also be getting a big import, and basketball is a team game," he said in Filipino at the PSA Awards Night, where he received his seventh Mr. Basketball citation. Fresh off leading San Miguel Beer to a Philippine Cup title with import-like stats of 17 points, 17.3 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 1.0 block per game, the man clearly has no plans to be outshined.
The Commissioner's Cup is shaping up to be the most exciting conference in years. Can Fajardo continue his dominance against imports who tower over even him? Can SMB stop TNT from extending their reign? One thing's for sure: PBA Season 50 is about to deliver a Commissioner's Cup for the ages. Abangan! 🏀
Source: The Manila Times
