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| Three years after helping South Sudan secure Olympic qualification in Quezon City, Nuni Omot is back in the Philippines this time as Magnolia's import. FIBA (file photo) |
MANILA--With just a day before their opening assignment in the 2026 PBA Commissioners Cup, the Magnolia Hotshots have decided to part ways with their original choice, Terrell Brown-Soares.
Replacing him is South Sudanese big man Nuni Omot, who was a member of his country’s national team that saw action in the 2023 FIBA World Cup held in the Philippines, as well as in the 2024 Paris Olympics.
A product of Baylor University, Omot suited up for G League teams Long Island Nets, Westchester Knicks, and Lakeland Magic, and various commercial squads worldwide, such as those in the Netherlands, Turkiye, Poland, Germany, France, Puerto Rico, and Israel, among others, after going professional in 2018.
During the 2022-2023 Basketball Africa League, Omot had his best season, earning MVP honors while leading Al Ahly Sporting Club to its first BAL crown.
During this championship run, the 6’9” forward tallied averages of 19.4 markers, 3.8 boards, 2.4 assists, and 1.4 steals, while registering a 47.5 percent shooting from the field.
While this will be the Olympian’s inaugural conference in the PBA, it will not be his first time playing in Asia, as he previously saw action for two teams in the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA).
His time with the Bayi Rockets in 2023-24 saw Omot tally his best career scoring output after averaging 25 points a game in 11 matches, while shooting at a 52.1 percent clip.
This included a 40-point performance against Shandong in April 2024, which stands as his personal best so far.
After a stop with Israeli club Maccabi Ramat Gan, he would return for another CBA season with the Beijing Ducks.
During the 2024-25 season, Omot had per-game numbers of 11.7 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 1.5 assists in 45 games while helping the Chinese club to a semifinal finish.
In his national team career, Omot was considered one of the main offensive options in the South Sudanese squad that participated in the 2023 FIBA World Cup and 2024 Olympiad.
In the World Cup, Omot registered per game averages of 14.4 markers, 2.8 boards, and 2 assists.
A year later, in South Sudan’s Olympic debut, Omot upped these numbers to 16.7 markers, 3.3 rebounds, and 2.7 assists per game.
