TNT has ruled out import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson for the rest of the conference due to a neck injury and tapped his brother Rahlir as replacement.

Tropang Giga head coach Jojo Lastimosa bared the news following the team’s 86-78 loss to Barangay Ginebra Kings where Rondae sat out and only watched from the sidelines.

“Hindi na puwedeng bumalik si Rondae because he is injured. We are putting in Rahlir, his brother,” said Lastimosa.

Even if the younger Hollis-Jefferson manages to come back even before the conference ends, PBA rules state that an import can only be replaced once and return later on.

In the case of Rondae, he was the original import choice of TNT but was momentarily replaced by Quincy Miller after suffering from gastroenteritis earlier in the season. Hollis-Jefferson returned and played for the Tropang Giga until he suffered a neck injury following a bad fall in their game against the Fubon Braves in the East Asia Super League.

Rondae was immediately brought to the hospital after the game and while he was feeling good during the Christmas Day game, TNT took a precaution and didn’t want to risk RHJ’s health.

“He is very fragile. He cannot turn his neck and I talked to his doctor yesterday and ‘yung injury na spinal cord na ganun, you don’t take it lightly. Even if wala nang pain, it’s a physical game. It can be jarred again and re-injure that neck again,” said Lastimosa.

“We are going to the conservative part and protect Rondae’s career,” he stressed.

Rahlir, though, is not entirely new to TNT’s system having played a game with the team in the EASL. The older of the Hollis-Jeffersons made a good account of himself with 22 points, nine rebounds and four assists.