Ginebra, TNT change imports

It’s been over a month since the PBA put the Governors ’Cup on hold to give way to Gilas’ participation in the fourth FIBA World Cup Asia qualifying window and the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games. Hostilities will resume on Oct. 7 with rule and import changes to be introduced.

While on break, the PBA scheduled five provincial games in a tour that ends in Candon, Ilocos Sur, tomorrow with TNT taking on Rain or Shine. NLEX, sharing the top of the standings with San Miguel Beer at 7-2, lost twice during the series as Robert Bolick attended to Gilas. The first setback was a 109-107 squeaker to Blackwater in San Jose del Monte last Sept. 9. No imports played that game. Then, the Road Warriors dropped a 95-81 decision to Magnolia in Batangas City last Sept. 19 with new import Deonte Burton scoring 11 points.

Other tour winners were San Miguel over Phoenix, 94-89, in Ilagan City last Sept 12 and Meralco over Converge, 96-89 in Santiago City the next day. Marcio Lassiter fired 30 points for the Beermen who were without June Mar Fajardo, CJ Perez, Don Trollano and Jerrick Ahanmisi. CJ Cansino hit 21 points to pace the Bolts. Jordon Varnado, Chris Newsome and Brandon Bates sat out for Meralco while Justine Baltazar and Jusin Arana were excused for Gilas duties.

Aside from Burton, TNT’s Nick Hornsby and Ginebra’s Jordan Murphy will make their first PBA appearance this conference. They both flew in yesterday. TNT team manager Jojo Lastimosa said Hornsby won’t play in Candon tomorrow. Rondae Hollis-Jefferson is back in the US to attend his grandmother’s funeral and will return on Oct. 5. He’s expected to be ready to play starting the quarterfinals. Ginebra assistant coach Richard del Rosario said while Murphy will take over from Riley Grigsby, there’s still hope for Justin Brownlee to reemerge. Coach Tim Cone said nothing is final with Brownlee. “We’re hopeful, we’ll see,” noted Cone. “In the meantime, (for Gilas), we’re still working on Bennie (Boatwright).”

Hornsby, 31, played in four NCAA seasons with Sacramento State and never averaged in double figure points until his senior year in 2016-17 when he shot an average of 11.3. He has seen action in four years in Germany and Canada, three in Israel and one each in Mexico and Indonesia. Hornsby starred in Indonesia last season, averaging 24 points, 12.4 rebounds, 4.9 assists and 2.8 steals while shooting 46.8 percent from the floor and 77.9 percent from the line.

Murphy, 29, has seen action for the US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico national teams. He averaged in twin digit points in four years with the University of Minnesota and came close to joining the Minnesota Timberwolves in the 2019-20 NBA season. Murphy has been a mainstay in the Puerto Rico league since 2021. Last season, he averaged 12.3 points for Leones de Ponce, hitting 57.6 percent from the floor and 39.2 percent from three.

The rule changes will conform to FIBA’s modifications which take into global effect on Oct. 1. The major difference is the removal of the unsportsmanlike foul. Now, fouls are classified into flagrant, disruptive and technical. Flagrant will be called on a non-legitimate play against an opponent as in a reckless or violent act. Disruptive will be called on no legitimate attempt to play the ball in transition. Technical will be called for disrespectful behavior, excessive swinging of elbows, flop, delay of game, hanging on the ring and goaltending on the last free throw.