Defending PBA Governors’ Cup champion TNT tapped Nick Hornsby as its new import to take the spot of Rahlir Hollis-Jefferson as the team prepares for the resumption of the tournament this October. The Tropang 5G made their official announcement on their social media accounts Thursday. “Bagong Tropa. Bagong armas. Meet the newest addition sa TNT Tropang 5G. Ready to make his mark,” the team posted. “Welcome KaTropa Nick!” The 31-year-old American is seen as a stand-in import with original choice, three-time Best Import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson who is still recovering from an Achilles tendon injury he sustained last December. He suffered the Achilles injury while playing for the Meralco Bolts in the East Asia Super League Season 3 home-and-away tournament last December. TNT team manager Jojo Lastimsosa said they don’t want to rush Hollis-Jefferson’s return. “We want to make sure Rondae is fully ready before we put him back on the court. He needs more game simulations and we don’t want to rush his return. We want him as close as 100 percent as possible,” TNT said in a statement. Hornsby is coming off a recent stint with the Edmonton Stingers  in the Canadian Elite Basketball League. Hollis-Jefferson, the left-handed American-Jordanian known by his initials RHJ, actually rejoined the team’s practice several weeks back, suiting up for the multi-titled PBA squad during a friendly match against the Jordanian national team, which used it to prepare for the 20th Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. TNT though elected to bring Hornsby, more likely to give the do-it-all Hollis-Jefferson more time to get himself back into shape. His brother Rahlir lasted just four games since replacing Darius Day. Rahlir averaged 22.8 points, 12 rebounds and over four assists, where TNT limped to an even 4-4 record, behind the 7-3 cards of NLEX and San Miguel Beer, as well as Converge (5-4) in the Governors’ Cup. The tournament is currently on a break to give way to Gilas’ international tournaments. TNT hopes to secure a win when the tournament restarts on Oct. 7 as the Tropang 5G battles Terrafirma.