NLEX scrambling for Jones replacement

NLEX will have to find a quick replacement for injured import DeQuan Jones and could go all-Filipino today in its final game before a three-week ceasefire of hostilities in the Philippine Basketball Association Season 50 Governors’ Cup.

Jones was carted out of the court after suffering a gruesome right leg injury in the third quarter of the Road Warriors’ 118-111 overtime win over defending champion TNT on Tuesday at the Ynares Center-Antipolo.

The do-it-all reinforcement landed awkwardly after attempting a shot. It got worse after Tropang 5G forward Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser accidentally landed on his right leg with 7:27 left in the third canto.

Jones suffered a fractured fibula. He already underwent operation and “is in high spirit,” according to NLEX team governor Ronald Dulatre in a social media post on Wednesday.

But on the court, the Road Warriors have to deal with the possibility of playing without an import.

“You never expect your import to go down… but from here, after we speak to the team, I’ll get our staff together with the management and try to figure out what we can do,” NLEX head coach Jimmy Alapag said after his team improved to a tournament-best 7-1 win-loss record in Group A but with such a steep price.

Jones had 23 points, four rebounds, one assist and one block before the incident.

The Road Warriors face a tough test without their import when they take on Converge at the Smart Araneta Coliseum before the league takes a break to give way to the national team’s participation in the 2027 FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifier fourth round and the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games.

“The next game I’m in is Friday, so we’ll do the best we can. Right now, all of our thoughts and prayers are with DJ,” Alapag added.

“It’s a big-time loss for our team, but we’ll try to find somebody who can fill that void.”

NLEX will open the resumption of games on 7 October against Macau.