PBA teams and their imports for Commissioner's Cup

Alta Sportsa month ago · 876 views

PBA teams and their imports for Commissioner's Cup image

Photo: PBA Images

By James Ajero

The race is complete! All 13 teams have named their import players ahead of the PBA Season 50 Commissioner's Cup slated on March 11.

While we await basketball action for the Commissioner's Cup on the golden anniversary of the Philippine league, Alta Sports takes a look on the crop of talent set to play in the tall-laden conference.

Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings - Justin Brownlee

It comes as no surprise that Barangay Ginebra San Miguel will once again ride on the broad shoulders of Justin Brownlee as the franchise gears up for the PBA Commissioner's Cup.

After a remarkable decade in the league, Brownlee remains the cornerstone of the Gin Kings’ success and the face of their championship culture.

Since arriving in 2016, the prolific baller has powered Ginebra to six PBA titles while scooping three Best Import citations, cementing his legacy as one of the most dominant reinforcements in league history.

Magnolia Hotshots - Terrell Brown-Soares

Magnolia bolstered their frontcourt for the upcoming mid-season conference by tapping forward/center Terrell Brown-Soares as their new reinforcement.

Photo by Mercedes Oliver/NBAE via Getty Images

Though he went undrafted in the NBA, the 6-foot-9 big man brings a wealth of international experience to the Hotshots’ roster. Brown-Soares has suited up in multiple leagues overseas, showcasing his versatility and interior presence during stints in the Czech Republic, Mexico, and Poland.

NLEX Road Warriors - Cady Lalanne

The Road Warriors selected Haitian big man Cady Lalanne as their foreign reinforcement for the upcoming PBA Commissioner's Cup.

The 33-year-old center brings NBA pedigree to the squad, having been selected in the second round of the 2015 Draft by the San Antonio Spurs.

Photo by Borja B. Hojas/Getty Images

Although he did not get to see action in the NBA, Lalanne carved out a solid professional career overseas, showcasing his rebounding prowess and interior scoring.

Rain or Shine Elasto Painters - Jaylen Johnson

The Elasto Painters are turning to veteran forward Jaylen Johnson as their foreign anchor next conference.

The 6-foot-9 American brings a wealth of experience to the Philippine league, with a professional journey that includes stints in the NBA Summer League and overseas campaigns in Asia. Most notably, Johnson suited up in the Korean Basketball League with the Goyang Sono Skygunners, where he played alongside Gilas Pilipinas wingman Kevin Quiambao.

Terrafirma Dyip - Mubashar Ali

Dyip are banking on size and international experience as they look to turn things around, signing seven-footer Mubashar Ali as their foreign reinforcement.

The 28-year-old Finnish center brings a solid resume from overseas, having suited up for professional clubs in Turkey, Finland, and Georgia. His exposure to various European leagues is expected to bolster Terrafirma’s interior presence on both ends of the floor.

Phoenix LPG Fuel Masters - James Dickey III

The Fuel Masters are set to pin their hopes on American big man James Dickey III as they gear up for the upcoming PBA Commissioner's Cup next month.

Standing at 6-foot-10, Dickey brings a diverse skill set shaped by his extensive international career. The athletic center has logged professional stints across Europe and Asia, suiting up for clubs in Germany, Israel, France, Ukraine, Hungary, and Indonesia.

Blackwater Bossing - Daniel Ochefu

Blackwater recruited former NBA player Daniel Ochefu to bolster its ranks, a familiar face for some Filipino teams.

Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images

Ochefu once played for TNT as an import in the East Asia Super League in 2023. He participated in various tournaments in Venezuela, Taiwan, Mongolia, and Syria. The American-born Nigerian also won a silver medal while playing for Nigeria in the Afrobasket.

He spent three years as a pro in NBA G League before his short stint with the Washington Wizards.

Meralco Bolts - Ismael Romero

Meralco is set to lean on Cuban-Puerto Rican baller Ismael Romero, who reprises his role as the team’s import after previously suiting up for the Bolts during the EASL campaign in October last year.

Romero brings with him a wealth of international experience.

Beyond his stint in the EASL, he saw action for Suwon KT Sonicboom in the Korean Basketball League. He also suited up for Libyan club Ahl Ahli Tripoli in the 2025 FIBA Intercontinental Cup, where the team secured a bronze medal finish.

TNT Tropang 5G - Bol Bol

With three-time PBA Best Import winner Rondae Hollis-Jefferson sidelined by injury, TNT has turned to a towering reinforcement to keep its title defense alive in the mid-season conference, 7-foot-3 former NBA standout Bol Bol.

Photo by Justin Ford/Getty Images

Tasked with filling the massive void left by Hollis-Jefferson, TNT is banking on Bol’s length, versatility, and professional experience to anchor its campaign.

The Sudanese-American big man brings impressive credentials, having suited up in the NBA for the Denver Nuggets, Orlando Magic, and Phoenix Suns.

San Miguel Beermen - Marcus Lee

Fresh from All-Filipino Cup glory, San Miguel tapped 6-foot-11 Marcus Lee to pair with big man June Mar Fajardo for the squad's bid for a back-to-back title on the golden anniversary of PBA.

Despite Lee going undrafted in the NBA, he played for the Siouz Falls Skyforce in the G League before taking his talents overseas. He recently played for the Cairns Taipans in the Australian National Basketball League.

With Lee's size, the Beermen have a legitimate backup center that has the physique to go toe-to-toe with other tall import players.

Converge FiberXers - Kylor Kelly

Probably in a "win-now" situation, the FiberXers have been notably tinkering with their roster to strengthen their championship potential, like scooping veteran Calvin Abueva in the off-season to add experience to their young core.

For their foreign reinforcement, Converge turned to Kylor Kelly to bolster its size in its already tall lineup. Kelly was a renowned rim protector during his collegiate basketball days, translating his defensive talent in the G League where he led in blocks and an All-Defensive Team recognition.

Kelly, along with twin towers Justine Baltazar and Justine Arana, could be the key to making the FiberXers rule the painted area enroute to the franchise's first-ever PBA title.

Titan Ultra Giant Risers - Michael Gilmore

With negotiations still ongoing for Greg Slaughter, Titan Ultra moved swiftly to address its frontline needs ahead of a conference loaded with towering reinforcements.

The team has secured six-foot-10 big man Michael Gilmore, adding much-needed size and versatility to its roster as it prepares to battle a predominantly tall crop of imports this upcoming conference.

Gilmore spent most of his career playing for European ballclubs in Sweden, Greece, and Italy. Though he was undrafted in the 2019 NBA draft, he still played for G League teams Wisconsin Herd and Raptors 905 before eventually playing outside America.

Macau Black Bears -Sam Deguara, Tony Mitchell

Guest team Black Bears are banking on familiarity as they gear up for their stint in the Filipino league, tapping seasoned reinforcements Sam Deguara and Tony Mitchell to anchor their campaign.

Deguara has been designated as the team’s primary import, with Mitchell ready to step in as a backup should circumstances prevent the Maltese big man from suiting up.

A familiar face to local fans, Deguara previously suited up for Zamboanga Valientes in the 35th Dubai International Basketball Championship. Towering at 7-foot-6, he is poised to become the tallest player ever to see action in the PBA.

Mitchell, meanwhile, previously reinforced the Purefoods Star Hotshots in the 2017 Commissioner’s Cup and later suited up for the NLEX Road Warriors in the 2019 edition of the same conference.

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