TNT Tropang Giga is facing the possibility of playing without an import when it faces Magnolia in the opening salvo of the Philippine Basketball Association Commissioner’s Cup tomorrow at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
TNT head coach Jojo Lastimosa admitted that they have yet to hire the replacement of Rondae Hollis-Jefferson with barely few days left before the opening of the league’s 48th season.
Hollis-Jefferson, the Best Import awardee in the recent Governors’ Cup, will not be able to suit up after suffering gastroenteritis and acid reflux.
In fact, he was not around when the Tropang Giga absorbed a 66-75 setback to the Chiba Jets in the East Asia Super League Season 2 last Wednesday.
The league’s Commissioner’s Office is giving the Tropang Giga until Saturday to hire an import. Then, the reinforcement will have to work on necessary documents from the Games and Amusement Board as well as submit a Letter of Clearance from the team he previously played for.
He also has to pass the height limit of 6-foot-8 prescribed for the season-opening conference.
Lastimosa admitted that there is a strong possibility that they will play with an all-local crew against the Hotshots, who swept the 11-game preseason tournament.
“There’s a chance that we will play all-Filipino,” Lastimosa told Daily Tribune.
With Hollis-Jefferson not around, the Tropang Giga will be wounded when they march into the brand-new season.
Key players like Poy Erram and Justin Chua remain injured while Roger Pogoy is sidelined with a heart ailment. Of course, superstar Mikey Williams is also not around as he has yet to iron out his contract dispute with the management.
“Poy and Justin won’t be ready until March next year,” Lastimosa added, referring to the big men who both suffered knee injuries.
With Erram and Chua out, the Tropang Giga tapped veteran big man Jewel Ponferrada and Henry Galinato from Rain or Shine while relying heavily on stars like Jayson Castro and Calvin Oftaba as well as the vastly-improved Glenn Khobuntin, Kelly Williams and Ryan Reyes.
