Lester Prosper ready to run it back with Terrafirma in Commissioner’s Cup

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

Another familiar face will be making his return in the import-laced Commissioner’s Cup of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA).

Lester Prosper, the leftie big man who first impressed in the PBA during the 2019 Commissioner’s Cup, is back with the Terrafirma Dyip in hopes of ending their five-season playoff drought.

Prosper was a candidate for the 2019 conference Best Import award after averaging 33.6 points, 16.9 rebounds, 1.7 assists, and 1.6 blocks per contest during his debut season with Terrafirma.

Despite his monster stats, Terrafirma still failed to make it into the playoffs of the 2019 Commissioner’s Cup and ended his stint with a 3-8 win-loss record.

Prosper’s stellar PBA run then paved the way for his numerous offers overseas including the Indonesian national team’s decision to make him their naturalized player.

Gilas Pilipinas first tested the Prosper-backed Indonesian team during the 2021 FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers.

The Philippines won in a convincing fashion, 76-51, but Prosper still came out and stuffed the stat sheet during their loss.

Prosper’s aggressiveness going to the hole while securing Indonesia’s second chance points helped them stay within striking distance midway in the second quarter, 20-18,

However, once the Tab Baldwin-led Gilas caught fire in the third frame, Prosper and team Indonesia got left behind and had no answers to their crisp ball movement and on-point offensive executions.

Prosper’s addition to the Dyip will seek to erase a horrible ending in their Philippine Cup campaign where they ended the season winless in 11 games.