The Terrafirma Dyip are tapping Finland-born big man Mubashar Ali to reinforce them in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup. Standing at seven feet, Ali is set to add ceiling to the Dyip’s undersized frontcourt, which mostly relies on a pair of 6-foot-4 forwards in Louie Sangalang and JM Bravo.
Mubashar Ali, the Frontcourt Anchor
Mubashar Ali had a three-year career for the Florida Memorial University Lions in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), where they competed in the competitive Sun Conference. Ali, in 64 total games, put up 13.0 points, 9.2 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks while shooting 53% from the field.
The Finnish big man then went undrafted in the 2023 NBA Draft but has since had a fruitful international career, with stops in Turkey, Finland, and Georgia. His stint in Turkey with Ankaragucu Mamak in the T-TBL lasted only three games, but he showed his potential for KTP Basket in Finland’s Korisliiga, where he put up 9.1 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 0.9 block in just 18 minutes a game.
Ali then took his act to Iverioni in the Georgian Super Liga, where he averaged 14.5 points, 9.7 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks in six games.
Banking on Mubashar Ali’s Evolving Game
The 28-year-old Mubashar Ali has gotten better at every stop thus far, beginning as an athletic defensive anchor and rim-runner for Florida Memorial to becoming a more well-rounded big by the time he got to Georgia last year. The Dyip, who only won one game in the PBA Philippine Cup, will be banking on Ali’s continuing evolution as a basketball player to hopefully be more competitive in the upcoming conference.
One area Ali could surely improve is Terrafirma’s rebounding. After averaging a league-worst 40.9 caroms a game in the Philippine Cup, having a 7-foot big patrolling the paint figures to at least solve that problem. Ali’s post game should also complement the Dyip’s cadre of shooters, notably Maverich Ahanmisi and Jerrick Ahanmisi, Mark Nonoy, and rookie JM Bravo.
Indeed, the pressure’s on Mubashar Ali to at least lead Terrafirma to respectability. He sure adds ceiling to the Dyip’s frontline, but it remains to be seen if he can add ceiling to Terrafirma’s overall potential as a team.
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