CHICAGO - Quietly, under the haze of the Olympic fog, Darius Days left Manila on Wednesday night.
The 6-foot-6, 245-pound forward was originally hired by the Tropang Giga as their import for the upcoming PBA Governor''s Cup until his detour to China where he landed another contract.
While TNT is saddened by the break-up, the signature franchise of the MVP Group is enthused over the reunion with Rondae Hollis-Jefferson.
"RHJ arrived last weekend and started practicing right away. He is coming in healthy," a source told SPIN.ph.
READ: RHJ coming back to perk up TNT's title defense
The emphasis on health was important given that RHJ's Season 48 Commissioner's Cup stint was abbreviated by a neck injury.
The naturalized Jordanian citizen and former Brooklyn Net is the highest-paid import this conference, pulling in a reported $60,000 a month, an agent who regularly provides imports to PBA teams told me.
IN THE HUNT.
Just like that, with the 29-year old PBA champ (2023 Govs' Cup) and Best Import of the Conference (2023 Govs' Cup) back on board, a giant has suddenly awakened.
Although his Kobe-esque all-around brilliance will be required to slay giants Ginebra, San Miguel, Meralco and the Glenn Robinson III-led Magnolia, RHJ won't be a one-man show.
Calvin Oftana is coming off a spectacular Philippine Cup campaign where he averaged 21.9 points, 9.2 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game. Roger Pogoy, meanwhile, soldiered through a health scare and averaged 21.9 points per last conference while hitting 38.5 percent from 3.
Jayson Castro and Kelly Williams will provide veteran support.
There are several new faces at TNT but this isn't coach Chot Reyes' first rodeo, and as he always does, he will blend all pieces together like ingredients of a championship stew.
There are levels to coaching in the PBA and Reyes, alongside Tim Cone, is easily up there at the top.
DAVE UPDATE.
The contract talks between No.5 pick Dave Ildefonso and NorthPort are moving like the ice age, crawling through the thicket of monetary figures at a snail's pace.
The former Ateneo star's name was noticeably missing from the Batang Pier roster for the Governors' Cup and when asked if he still has a chance to sneak in, his camp didn't manifest any enthusiasm.
"Not now," I was told Wednesday night.
If NorthPort is really about winning, how come they haven't signed the winner they just drafted last month?
WHERE IS HEADING HEADED?
Two teams are very interested in the services of Jordan Heading, whose PBA rights are owned by the Terrafirma Dyip.
A seasoned point guard with playing experience in Taiwan, Japan and the NBL1, Heading can help an average team contend or lift a contender to a title.
Let's see where he ends up.
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