The Blackwater Bossing are showing they’re serious about the upcoming PBA conference by tapping big man Daniel Ochefu for the Commissioner’s Cup. In bringing in the former Villanova Wildcat and ex-Washington Wizard, the Bossing will have a seasoned post presence who can anchor Blackwater on both offense and defense.
Daniel Ochefu, the Seasoned Pro
Ochefu is a 6-foot-11 Nigerian-American center who carries a résumé that few imports can match. He was a pivotal piece of the Villanova Wildcats’ 2016 NCAA Championship run, where his shot-blocking and rebounding anchored one of the most disciplined defenses in college basketball. That success translated into a stint with the Washington Wizards in the NBA, followed by a prolific journey through the NBA G League and high-level international stints in Japan, Spain, and South Korea.
Among his notable international campaigns was a 35-game stint with the Ibaraki Robots in the Japan B.League back in 2019–20, where he averaged 22.3 points, 11.3 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 1.3 blocks. He also had a six-game run with Al-Riyadi in the Lebanese Basketball League in 2022–23, where he put up 20.5 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks.
What’s more, Ochefu is no stranger to the Philippine brand of basketball, as he once played for the TNT Tropang 5G, albeit in the EASL and for only two games. He averaged 14.5 points, 10.5 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks.
The Force the Bossing Needs?
At 32, Daniel Ochefu enters the PBA as more of a “traditional” big man. Unlike the modern big, the one-time Wizard thrives in the half-court set and does most of his work in the paint, establishing good position with his massive frame and finishing around the rim with a soft touch for a man his size. He’s also shown he can step out from the perimeter and dial in those long bombs.
Ochefu’s rebounding and shot-blocking should also come in handy for a Bossing squad that lacks size and was consistently beaten on the boards in the PBA Philippine Cup.
Importantly, the fit for Blackwater seems seamless — at least on paper. By providing a legitimate low-post threat, Daniel Ochefu should theoretically draw double-teams, creating wide-open looks for the Bossing’s perimeter threats. On the other side of the ball, the Nigerian’s towering presence should galvanize a porous defense that routinely gave up interior points.
But whether Daniel Ochefu is the answer to the Bossing’s basketball woes remains to be seen.
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