The imports in the 2024 PBA Governors’ Cup have thus far had mixed performances and have at times been overshadowed by their Filipino teammates. That, however, wasn’t the case with Scotty Hopson. 

Hopson had no qualms adjusting to the PBA and finished with a game-high 46 points in the Converge FiberXers’ 127-95 victory of the Terrafirma Dyip, easily eclipsing the 36 points NorthPort Batang Pier’s Taylor Maurice Jones scored against the TNT Tropang Giga. That wasn’t his best feat, though, as Hopson made all three of his 4-point attempts and currently leads the league in makes and shooting percentage from that distance. 

There’s a certain maturity to Hopson’s game and it’s evident with the way he attacks on offense. He’s shifty rather than quick, and he still managed to slip past physical and quick-twitch defenders. The Dyip being averse to defense certainly made things easier, but Hopson didn’t hesitate in capitalizing on Terrafirma’s lackluster effort. 

Getting the win was nice and the changes the FiberXers have put out seem to be working out for them. Bringing in Rajko Toroman as an active consultant was one thing, but signing up Hopson to bolster a relatively young squad was a good balancing act on their part. 

At 35, Hopson has been through quite a lot in his basketball career. His NBA stint may have been brief, but he has had a wealth of experience in the NBA G-League, Europe, and in Asia. Hopping from one league to another is not an easy task, more so when you’re more often than not the player to be depended upon, but the length of his resume does speak itself and Converge may have gotten the right guy for their roster.   

It’s highly unlikely that we see Hopson’s hot shooting every game, but it’s his intangibles that could prove to be more vital. How will he react when it’s not his night offensively? Can he help out in other aspects of the game? Will he be willing to take the backseat for a win? There are signs he’s capable of doing so because he can take care of the ball (just two turnovers in 34 minutes), rebound the ball (team-high eight rebounds), and make plays for others (three assists). 

As it stands, there seems to already be a different energy to these Converge FiberXers and Scotty Hopson set the tone for them to open the 2024 PBA Governors’ Cup with his on-court performance. Yes, the FiberXers have only played one game, but a statement victory to start the conference should give them the confidence to wipe away the bitter taste of the previous season.