The most routine plays in sports are often overlooked, but they also tend to be when the most devastating injuries rear their ugly heads. 

Bol Bol was making a routine drive to the basket, a move he has done often in his basketball career and one he has been able to execute with ease in his stint with the TNT Tropang 5G despite being double-teamed on a nightly basis. Unfortunately, this one ended in the worst possible way and for Bol, and it ended a stint that would have helped open a pathway back to the NBA. 

At 26, Bol is likely to make a full recovery and still has time to carve out a career. Given his size, though, the recovery process can be tricky and might be similar to that of Kevin Durant, who needed around 18 months to recover from his own Achilles tendon tear. 

The Tropang 5G are also rooting for Bol’s recovery and have been appreciative of what he has brought to the team. But they are also concerned with life after him. Losing Game 2 was tough, but in Game 3, TNT was able to outlast the Meralco Bolts, who could not knock down free throws to save their lives. 

Taking a 2-1 series lead without an import was huge for the Tropang 5G, who after deciding among Darius Days and Marquese Chriss are likely to choose between Malick Diouf and Chris McCullough. McCullough will likely be the one ready for Game 4 and with him being more familiar with PBA basketball, he will just need to work on understanding how TNT head coach Chot Reyes wants to integrate him on both ends of the floor. 

There are similarities to the way McCullough and Bol play, but the former is more team-oriented and has thrived when working within the system. He brings stability to a roster that on its own is already strong but requires some talent that will not disrupt the momentum at this point in the season. Bol’s success in the PBA Season 50 Commissioner’s Cup came in part due to him having enough game reps to understand where he has to take over and where he can defer and maximize certain situations within possessions. McCullough’s inclusion should provide frontcourt stability, but he will also allow the likes of Calvin Oftana, RR Pogoy, and Rey Nambatac opportunities to keep thriving. 

That being said, are the TNT Tropang 5G title contenders once more? Given Chris McCullough’s pedigree one would think so, but it remains to be seen how the game flows when he is finally on the court. The Meralco Bolts failed to maximize a golden opportunity in Game 3 while McCullough’s papers were still being sorted out. The Tropang 5G now have some momentum and the opportunity to take firm control of the series. It’s on them now not to put things to waste.