ITS bid for the playoffs very much alive, Converge made the necessary move of bringing in a replacement import for the hurting Scotty Hopson with the PBA Governors Cup group stage now entering the homestretch.
The FiberXers tapped former NBA player Jalen Jones to reinforce them in their remaining elimination round games in hopes of reaching the playoffs for the first time in two seasons.
The 31-year-old Jones previously suited up for New Orleans, Dallas, and Cleveland, although he went undrafted in the 2016 NBA Draft.
Jones was officially measured at the PBA office on Tuesday.
The import switch came as Hopson continues to nurse a hip flexor injury, which he said has already went down to his quad.
Yet despite hobbling the past three games of the FiberXers, Hopson still found a way to lead the team to a 100-99 victory over the Terrafirma Dyip last weekend as the import scored another game-winning four-point shot.
READ: Hopson to the rescue once more as Converge escapes Terrafirma
Hopson's heroics paved way for the third-year franchise to remain in the running for a quarterfinals slot out of Group A, where it currently sports an even 4-4 record for solo fourth spot.
Converge though, has relegated Hopson in the injured/reserved list at the moment.
Jones' journey
Jones, who spent time in college with MSU and Texas A&M, played in the G. League before landing an NBA roster spot.
He was an All-Rookie Team member in the G. League in 2017 with the Maine Red Claws and also made it to the G. League Third Team that same season.
He later played overseas in leagues in Spain, Italy, France, Israel, and Romania.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
