Bol Bol enters evaluation phase as TNT Tropang 5G opens training camp for  PBA Commissioner’s Cup title defense

The spotlight isn’t on game night just yet—it’s on preparation.

As defending champions gear up for another run in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup, TNT Tropang 5G has shifted its focus to a crucial four-day training block at the Inspire Sports Academy, where new import Bol Bol begins what could be the most important stretch of his transition into Philippine basketball.

Rather than immediate expectations, the camp is designed as a controlled environment—part conditioning reset, part system immersion—for the 7-foot-3 former NBA big man.

Team manager Jojo Lastimosa said the closed-door setup allows the coaching staff to closely monitor Bol’s progress as he adapts to TNT’s structure and pace.

“I still have to see him in kind of at least full strength because he’s not in shape yet,” said Lastimosa on Wednesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum during the MVP Olympics All-Star Game.

“So I want to see him how he does in the camp, how he understands the system and all that.”

Bol’s arrival comes with intrigue not just because of his rare size and skillset, but also because of his basketball lineage as the son of late NBA defensive icon Manute Bol. 

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ALL SET FOR THE PBA

7’3 TNT Tropang 5G import Bol Bol, a former NBA player, graces the MVP Olympics at the Big Dome on Tuesday before the PBA Comm’s Cup opening on March 11, 2026. | @bryanulanday pic.twitter.com/kLZUNv50WG

— The Philippine Star (@PhilippineStar) February 24, 2026

He first linked up with the team earlier this week during a light session at the Moro Lorenzo Gym, marking his initial on-court introduction to teammates and coaches.

Later that evening, Bol observed from courtside alongside team owner Manny V. Pangilinan and PBA chairman Ricky Vargas, as Lastimosa coached against a squad handled by Luigi Trillo in a tightly contested exhibition.

While TNT enters the conference carrying championship momentum, Lastimosa emphasized that Bol’s integration remains a process rather than a guarantee.

“It remains to be seen,” said the TNT team manager and former coach. “But I’m hopeful because he’s got experience and we know he got skills.”

Bol’s professional journey includes NBA stints with the Denver Nuggets, Orlando Magic, and Phoenix Suns, and his arrival has naturally drawn comparisons to TNT’s previous import success with Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, who powered the franchise to last season’s Commissioner’s Cup crown.

Still, the immediate objective is simpler: build rhythm, build chemistry, and rebuild conditioning.

The Tropang 5G will conclude camp on Saturday, hoping the controlled grind becomes the foundation for another championship push. 

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