SCOTTY HOPSON drained the first ever game-winning four-point shot in PBA history, 96-95, as Converge rallied past TNT in their Governors Cup duel Tuesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Yet, the deadly shooting import was humble even in victory.
The 35-year-old former NBA player paid tribute to the Tropang Giga and Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, referring to the FiberXers’ victims as a ‘hell of a team.’
“We got to give a lot of credit to TNT. Rondae is tough. You know what I mean? I came in knowing he’s playing well in this league. And I came in looking forward to that match up,” said Hopson, who once set a franchise record of 52 points for the Sioux Falls Skyforce in the NBA G League.
Hopson did match up Hollis-Jefferson point-for-point as both imports each finished with 32 points, with Hopson making 10-of-23 from the field and Hollis-Jefferson 10-of-24.
The TNT reinforcement, winner of the 2023 Governors’ Cup Best Import, though, had the better numbers with 15 rebounds, six assists, and two steals compared to the 10-4-1 stats of his Converge counterpart.
Eventually, Hopson had the last laugh.
After Hollis-Jefferson put the Tropang Giga on top, 95-92, on two free throws with 9.6 seconds, Hopson answered back with the game’s biggest play, nailing the game-winner from 27-feet off the challenge put up by Glenn Khobuntin.
Hollis-Jefferson tried to reverse the outcome in TNT’s final play, but his drive to the basket failed to hit the mark, giving the FiberXers the dramatic, come-from behind win.
“He (Hollis-Jefferson) gave everything he had just like the rest of the guys on the roster. So hats off to them,” said Hopson.
The Converge import is aware a rematch is in the offing as Converge and TNT belonged to the same bracket in Group A, where the two teams are now currently tied on top with similar 2-1 records.
“I know we’re going to see him (Hollis-Jefferson) later down the line. That’s going to be a ‘spicy match up.’ So that’s going to be great,” Hopson said.
That ‘spicy match up’ is set on Sept. 8 as the Tropang Giga and FiberXers duke it up anew at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
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.
