Scotty Hopson never really attempted shooting from the four-point area during Converge’s preparations heading into the new PBA season.
Yet he went 3-of-3 from that range in the FiberXers’ rout of Terrafirma in a rousing Governors’ Cup debut, which made it all the more impressive.
“Not really,” he said smiling during the postgame presser of their 127-95 victory at the SMART Araneta Coliseum on Wednesday, when asked about his spotless shooting from 27 feet.
“I don’t think I took one the entire preseason, honestly.”
Hopson said matter-of-factly that he actually operates within the mid-range more, but eventually got into a flow against the Dyip that led to those shots.
The well-travelled pro out of Tennessee hit his first quadruple with less than a minute to go in the first, and then made the second during the third as part of the FiberXers’ franchise-best 47-point barrage to put the game out of reach.
He sank the third and final approaching the last four minutes of game, which pushed their lead to 123-92 before he was subbed out for good.
(C) PBA Images
“I got hot, man,” he said. “I like to play in the mid-range, honestly. Once I get into rhythm playing in the mid-range — to the elbow, to the spots that I like to play on the basketball floor — the basket seems a lot wider at that point.
“And then, I was able to kinda catch a rhythm,” added Hopson, who got off to a hot start personally by dropping 16 in the game’s first 12 minutes.
Hopson ended the night with 46 points on an excellent 75-percent clip from the field, eight rebounds, three assists, a steal, and two blocks.
It was, all in all, an impressive showing for Converge, who posted its largest win in team history. But the 35-year-old isn’t settling whatsoever.
“I can be a lot better, honestly, but the team’s asking for me to score and be a leader. Just trying to tap all those boxes. We can still play a lot better,” he said.
“Hoping that we’ll have another good outing on Friday.”
