NLEX import DeQuan Jones underwent surgery in his lower right leg and ankle that were fractured during an accidental collision with TNT Tropang 5G’s Brandon Rosser-Ganuelas during the Philippine Basketball Association game that the Road Warriors won to remain on top of the Governors’ Cup on Tuesday night at the Ynares Sports Center in Antipolo City.
‘He’s in high spirits,’ NLEX governor in the PBA board Ronald Dulatre told the BusinessMirror on Wednesday after visiting Jones, who will also undergo surgery in his right fibula once the swelling subsides.
Doctors, according to Dulatre, said that it will take at least four months for Jones to recover but he has to undergo strength and psychological conditioning for a year before he can be play again.
Jones sustained the horrible injury while driving to the basket against Rosser-Ganuelas in the 7:27 mark of the third quarter and had to be wheeled out on a stretcher-he made the thumbs up sign and was smiling on the way to the ambulance.
He was called for an offensive foul and even without an import, NLEX went on to win, 118-111, for a guaranteed berth in the quarterfinals with a league-leading 7-1 win-loss record.
The Road Warriors, Dulatre said, would potentially play without an import when they face Converge at 5:15 p.m. on Friday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
‘Unless we can find someone who is available here who can beat today’s [Thursday] 12 noon deadline in the PBA office, maybe we can have an import,’ Dulatre said. ‘But for now, all our concern goes to DeQuan Jones.’
The PBA allows teams to play without an import-due to injury or emergency reasons-for two consecutive games, otherwise sanctions will be imposed.
‘Coach Jimmy [Alapag] already has a few names in mind, but we cannot name them yet,’ Dulatre said.
The PBA will have a two-month break after’s Friday’s play date-the other game at 7:15 p.m. pits Meralco against Barangay Ginebra San Miguel-to give way to the fourth window of the FIBA 2027 World Cup Asia Qualifiers on August 28 and 30 at the Mall of Asia Arena and the Aichi-Nagoya 20th Asian Games in September.
Robert Bolick had 27 points, five rebounds and eight assists and LJ Gonzalez finished with 28 points to lead the Road Warriors, who drew 23 points from Jones in the victory over the Tropang 5G.