Tropang 5G brings back Rahlir Hollis-Jefferson, parts ways with Darius Days

TNT has made a change to its import rotation, bringing back Rahlir Hollis-Jefferson while parting ways with Darius Days in an effort to strengthen its title defense in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Season 50 Governors' Cup.

Team manager Jojo Lastimosa confirmed the move to Tiebreaker Times on Tuesday following the Tropang 5G's dramatic 110-107 victory over Converge at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

The decision came just hours after head coach Chot Reyes acknowledged that TNT was already evaluating its import situation after another disappointing outing from Days.

"To be very honest, we have to make a decision on that pretty soon," Reyes said after the win, which ended the team's two-game losing streak.

Days opened the conference with consecutive 20-point performances against Macau and Titan Ultra but struggled to maintain that form in the succeeding games.

He totaled just 20 points over his final two appearances against Terrafirma and Converge while shooting a combined 7-of-30 from the field. In what proved to be his final game with TNT, Days finished with only 10 points on 4-of-19 shooting against the FiberXers.

Reyes admitted the import's decline had become increasingly evident.

"Panalo kami, ba't kami magpapalit?" he initially joked with reporters.

The veteran coach later acknowledged that the organization had been seriously considering a switch.

"That's still up in the air. We're definitely considering it. But Darius is not the Darius Days that we had a couple of years back. He's completely out of shape, overweight, and I think it shows in his game," Reyes said.

"And obviously, it's affecting the game of the locals."

Speculation surrounding Days intensified before Tuesday's game after Australia's National Basketball League club Illawarra Hawks announced that it had signed him for the 2026-27 season.

Despite the announcement, Days still suited up against Converge. He spent most of the closing minutes on the bench before returning with 9.1 seconds remaining as part of TNT's defensive unit.

On the game's final possession, Days attempted to free Rey Nambatac with a screen near midcourt, but Nambatac waved it off, attacked Alec Stockton one-on-one, and drilled the game-winning buzzer-beating three-pointer.

With Days departing, TNT reunites with Hollis-Jefferson, the older brother of franchise icon Rondae Hollis-Jefferson.

Rahlir previously played for the Tropang 5G during the 2023-24 season, initially serving as Rondae's temporary replacement before also suiting up in the East Asia Super League.

The 35-year-old last played for Joensuun Kataja Basket Club in Finland's Korisliiga and is expected to make his return on Saturday, Aug. 1, when TNT faces longtime rival San Miguel Beer at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.