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A couple of familiar faces and a lot of newcomers, including a legitimate NBA veteran, comprise the cast of imports for the second conference of the PBA’s 50th season.
Editor’s note: This article was updated on Mar. 11 to report the new import of the Magnolia Chicken Timplados Hotshots.
After an extended break to give way to the last FIBA window, the PBA is back on March 11 with the opening of the Season 50 Commissioner’s Cup. Thirteen teams – the 12 regular PBA ballclubs plus guest team Macau Black Bears – will compete in this conference, the second of three following the just-concluded Philippine Cup.
Each team is allowed to recruit an import of unlimited height, and some teams took full advantage. Here’s a brief rundown of all the reinforcements who will be seeing action:
Justin Brownlee (Barangay Ginebra San Miguel)
It’s hard to believe that this year will mark Justin Brownlee’s 10th anniversary as Barangay Ginebra’s resident import. He’s gone on to win six PBA titles, including two in the Commissioner’s Cup, but the Barangay haven’t lifted a trophy since the 2023 edition. And with Justin Noypi getting up there in years (he turns 38 next month), there could be a little bit of pressure to get the job done this time.
Daniel Ochefu (Blackwater Bossing)
The Nigerian-born Ochefu will finally make his PBA debut after an aborted stint with Rain or Shine three years ago. He did suit up for TNT, but for the EASL. Listed at 6’11”, Ochefu played four years for the Villanova Wildcats and won an NCAA title in 2016 before cracking the Washington Wizards roster in 2016. He’s a true globetrotter, having played in the G-League, Spain, Mexico, Lebanon, Venezuela, Mongolia, Syria, Japan and Korea.
Kylor Kelley (Converge FiberXers)
Already receiving a major boost with the arrival of Mikey Williams, the FiberXers look even more fearsome with the addition of the 7’0″ Kelley, who boasts of extensive G-League experience in addition to brief stints with the New Orleans Pelicans and Dallas Mavericks. Kelley was named G-League Defensive Player of the Year and once led the league in blocks, which bodes well for a Converge team already loaded with scoring options.
Tony Mitchell (Macau Black Bears)
The Black Bears were supposed to have two imports on their roster, with only one at a time allowed to play in the Commissioner’s Cup. But that’s now off the table after it was reported that Malta’s Samuel Deguara, who at a shade below 7’7” was poised to become the tallest-ever player in PBA history, has signed a contract to play in Taiwan instead. That leaves Tony Mitchell, who is a familiar face to PBA fans. Mitchell played for the Star Hotshots in 2017 and the NLEX Road Warriors in 2019 so you can be sure he’ll be ready for the brand of play here.
Nuni Omot (Magnolia Chicken Timplados Hotshots)
Just hours before the start of the Commissioner’s Cup, Magnolia has reportedly decided to drop Terrell Brown-Soares, who had been here since last month, in favor of Nuni Omot, who suited up for South Sudan in the 2023 FIBA World Cup here and in the 2024 Paris Olympics. Fresh off a stint in Lebanon, the 6’9″ Omot has played in China, the Netherlands, Israel, Egypt and North Macedonia. He was also named MVP of the Basketball Africa League in 2023.
Marvin Jones (Meralco Bolts)
The Bolts reversed course at the last minute and decided to forgo their plan of fielding Ismael Romero in the Commissioner’s Cup. Instead, they’re bringing in 7’0″ Marvin Jones, another well-traveled baller who’s seen action in Greece, Slovenia, Turkiye, Puerto Rico, Israel, Spain and Montenegro. Jones didn’t put up impressive numbers in college, and he’s never played in the NBA, but his international experience could prove vital for the Bolts.
Cady Lalanne (NLEX Road Warriors)
A native of Haiti, Cady Lalanne played for years at the University of Massachusetts before being drafted late in the second round by the San Antonio Spurs in the 2015 NBA draft and signing up with the Austin Spurs in the NBA G-League. The 6’10” Lalanne has also seen action all over the globe, having played in Puerto Rico, China, Korea, Lebanon, Spain, Turkiye, and Italy. Shortly after signing with NLEX, he was loaned to the Meralco Bolts for a brief stint in the EASL.
James Dickey (Phoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters)
With new coach Charles Tiu at the helm, the Fuel Masters are looking to advance to the playoffs this time after a dismal Philippine Cup campaign. Tiu is banking on the 6’10” Dickey to boost the team’s fortunes and hopefully advance deep in the knockout stages. Dickey hasn’t played in the NBA yet, but he’s familiar with Southeast Asian basketball, having been a regular import for Pelita Jaya, whom he led to the Indonesian league title in 2024.
Jaylen Johnson (Rain or Shine Elasto Painters)
Not to be confused with the rising Atlanta Hawks forward, Jaylen Johnson played three seasons with the Louisville Cardinals in the NCAA. He went undrafted in the 2017 NBA draft and later saw action for a variety of G-League teams. Johnson has also been plying his trade overseas, with stops in Israel, Uruguay, Taiwan and Turkiye. Listed at just six-foot-nine, Johnson will be put to the test against taller and heftier opposition. But then again, that’s never stopped a Yeng Guiao-coached player.
Marcus Lee (San Miguel Beermen)
One of the last imports to sign up for the Commissioner’s Cup, Marcus Lee will be joining a Beermen team fresh off of a Philippine Cup title and out to capture the second jewel of a possible Grand Slam. Lee was teammates with Karl-Anthony Towns at the University of Kentucky, where he played two seasons before transferring to the University of California. He’s another import who went undrafted in the NBA draft but carved out a career overseas, with stops in Puerto Rico, Italy, Australia, Turkiye and Poland.
Mubashar Ali (Terrafirma Dyip)
A seven-foot native of Finland, Mubashar Ali played two seasons for the Southern Jaguars in the Southwestern Athletic Conference. He hardly made an impact there, though, playing just 26 games and averaging less than seven minutes of playing time. He transferred to Florida Memorial in the NAIA but never suited up for the Lions. Ali eventually took his sneakers to Europe, where he’s seen action in Turkiye, Finland and Georgia.
Michael Gilmore (Titan Ultra Giant Risers)
A Belgian-American, Michael Gilmore is reportedly the nephew of former NBA center Artis Gilmore. He didn’t grow to be as tall as his famous 7’2″ uncle, though, as he’s listed at 6’9″ Gilmore represented Belgium in two FIBA EuroBasket qualifiers games in 2022 but hardly made an impact. He suited up for Virginia Commonwealth and Florida Gulf Coast in the NCAA before embarking on an overseas career with stops in Germany, Belgium, Mexico, Sweden, Greece, Italy, China and Turkiye.
Bol Bol (TNT Tropang 5G)
And finally, there’s Bol Bol, easily the most recognizable and best credentialed of all 13 imports. At 7’3”, he’s also the tallest reinforcement Bol is a legitimate NBA veteran, having played 202 games over six seasons for the Denver Nuggets, Orlando Magic and Phoenix Suns with averages of 6.2 points and 3.5 rebounds. The son of the late 7’7″ NBA center Manute Bol, Bol Bol is quite literally and figuratively head and shoulders above the competition.
Banner images from PBA Media Bureau, Denver Nuggets, and Tony Mitchell on Instagram
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