AFTER Bol Bol, now it’s Boban.
Serbian big man Boban Marjanovic arrived in the country on Tuesday and will be the main reinforcement of Strong Group Athletics as it seeks a third straight championship in the annual Jones Cup in Chinese-Taipei.
The 7-foot-4 former NBA player is the latest big man to come over to the Philippines and play ball after the 7-foot-3 Bol suited up for TNT in the last PBA Commissioner’s Cup.
READ Remy Martin bolsters Strong Group's Jones Cup three-peat bid
Boban had his photo taken with Strong Group Athletics coach Charles Tiu, who was responsible for tapping the services of the 37-year-old Serbian for the August 8-23 meet at the New Taipei City Xinzhuang gymnasium.
Tiu approached known Filipino U.S.-based import agent Roger Jimenez to get in contact with Boban’s camp.
Jimenez immediately got in touch with the representative of Boban in Serbia, who also handles three-time NBA MVP Nikolai Jokic of the Denver Nuggets.
It didn’t take long for Boban and his group to agree and come on board, according to Jimenez, who was also responsible for bringing in quality imports such as Dequan Jones, currently playing for undefeated NLEX in the ongoing Governors’ Cup, Chris McCullough during his maiden stint in the PBA that resulted in a championship with San Miguel, and Tony Bishop in his first foray with Meralco when the Bolts reached the finals of the 2022 Governors' Cup.
Boban of course, twice played against Gilas Pilipinas in the past as part of the Serbia men’s basketball team.
The Serbians first faced the Filipinos in the 2019 FIBA World Cup in China, and then the 2021 FIBA Olympic qualifying tournament in Belgrade.
Both times, Gilas lost to Serbia.
Now, Boban will try to help the Philippine side clinch a three-peat in the Jones Cup
The Serbian is set to team up with the likes of former Gilas mainstays Matthew Wright and William Navarro, Fil-Am Remy Martin, Puerto Rico national team mainstay Isaiah Pineiro, Dave Ildefonso and brother Shaun Ildefonso, naturalized player Ange Kouame, DJ Fenner, former NCAA MVP Allen Liwag, rising star Titing Manalili, and Tajuan Agee.
Strong Group is bracketed with Chinese Taipei Blue, Korea, and Japan as it bids to become the first team to win the title three times in a row since Iran did the feat from 2009 to 2011.
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