PBA: Magnolia taps NBA Draft second-rounder Tyler Bey as import

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – NOVEMBER 26: Tyler Bey #1 of the Colorado Buffaloes celebrates on the court after the team’s 71-67 victory over the Clemson Tigers to win the MGM Resorts Main Event basketball tournament at T-Mobile Arena on November 26, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Ethan Miller/Getty Images/AFP (Photo by Ethan Miller / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)

MANILA, Philippines—Magnolia is going to work early for the 2023 PBA Commissioners’ Cup tournament.

With two months to go before the PBA’s resumption, the Hotshots have already tapped Tyler Bey as their import for the season-opening conference.

Bey, a second-rounder in the 2020 NBA Rookie Draft selected by the Dallas Mavericks, was chosen by coach Chito Victolero due to his height and defensive prowess.

“He’s a fit for us, athletic and young,” said Victolero in Filipino. “He became a Defensive Player of the Year in the PAC-12 in the NCAA so we think he’s going to be a good fit for our system.”

Bey barely played for the Mavericks, who had a forward-stacked roster including All-Star Luka Doncic.

Standing at 6-foot-7, Bey is more than suitable to play for the Hotshots with the conference’s import-height limit set at 6-foot-10.

The 25-year-old also played for the Colorado Buffaloes in his collegiate career.

Another thing that Victolero found interesting with Bey’s style of play is his ability to play more than one position.

A player of Bey’s caliber is set to complement James Laput and Abu Tratter, who have been steadily improving in the paint for Magnolia.

“He can also play either shooting guard or small forward and he has an inside-outside game.”