As RHJ continues recovery, TNT opts to bring in NBA vet Darius Days as Govs’ Cup import

The name of Darius Days has been ringing a bell for the TNT Tropang 5G as early as two years ago.

He was supposed to play for the Tropang 5G in the Governors’ Cup in 2024, when Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, then the reigning Best Import was exploring opportunities in Europe.

Hollis-Jefferson returned to give TNT its second straight championship in the Governors’ Cup, prompting Days to bring his skill set in the Australian National Basketball League where he also helped the Illawara Hawks in winning the championship.

A few weeks ago, Days got another call up from TNT and was considered as among the candidates to take over the spot of the injured Bol Manute Bol in their best-of-seven semifinals series, but the Tropang 5G instead put in Malick Diouf, Gilas Pilipinas’ reinforcement in the 3×3 competitions, in standby, before pulling off a big surprise when they brought in former San Miguel Beer import Chris McCullough, who helped the team in reaching the championship round.

The Days of waiting for Darius is over as he finally secured a deal with the Tropang 5G to be their import in the season-ending tournament.

TNT team manager Jojo Lastimosa told ALL-STAR that Days is scheduled to arrive on July 1. He is also confident the import will meet the Governors’ Cup’s 6-foot-6 height limit.

“He’ll be here (July 1). He was able to make it in the 6-foot-6 height limit last time,” added Lastimosa.

According to Lastimosa, who won his first and only championship while serving the concurrent position of team manager and head coach while coaching Hollis-Jefferson and the Tropang 5G three years ago, TNT’s resident reinforcement can only return October the earliest.

Days last saw action in the Japanese B. League while playing for the San-en NeoPhoenix.

But Days also had a brief stint with the Houston Rockets in the NBA during the 2022-2023 season, and in four games, he averaged 3.8 points in 18 minutes of playing time.

For more exclusive basketball stories and updates, click here.