TNT sees end of Days, brings back ‘other RHJ’

TNT is bringing in Rahlir Hollis-Jefferson as reinforcement to replace underperforming Darius Days.

The Tropang 5G management has decided to let go of Days after four games into the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Season 50 Governors’ Cup.

Hollis-Jefferson will fill in the import spot while waiting for his younger brother, three-time Best Import Rondae, to fully recover from an Achilles tear.

Team manager Jojo Lastimosa said Hollis-Jefferson is already in Manila and is set to go as the severely depleted and banged-up defending champion approaches the tail end of the first round of the double-round robin group stage.

Hollis-Jefferson, who is on his second stint with TNT after suiting up as backup for Rondae during the 2023-2024 Commissioner’s Cup, is expected to see action on Saturday against San Miguel Beer at the Mall of Asia Arena.

The 35-year-old reinforcement will be joining a Tropang 5G side that is already missing the services of injured Calvin Oftana, Jayson Castro, Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser and JP Erram, as well as Kelly Williams, who is on leave.

TNT barely escaped Converge, 110-107, last Tuesday to snap a two-game slide for an even 2-2 win-loss record in Group A.

However, the Tropang 5G paid a steep price for the victory with RR Pogoy hyperextending his right knee in a third-quarter exit just a minute after backcourt partner Jordan Heading left the game with a left shoulder injury.

Much is expected of Hollis-Jefferson following Days’ anemic production.

Days averaged 16.0 points, 5.25 rebounds and 1.25 assists in four outings but his presence was hardly felt.

“Darius is not the Darius Days that we had a couple of years back. He’s completely out of shape, overweight,” TNT head coach Chot Reyes admitted.

In his last match, Days had 10 points on 4-of-19 shooting from the field, 2-of-12 from the three-point area, with four rebounds, an assist, and a steal before getting pulled out of the game with over two minutes left. M. ESCARLOTE

“I think it shows in his game, and obviously it’s affecting the game of the locals,” Reyes added.