Blackwater activates ex-Red Lion Clifford Jopia

MANILA, Philippines -- Fresh off an NCAA championship with the San Beda Red Lions, Clifford Jopia is set to make his PBA debut on Friday.

The 6-foot-8 Jopia, a third round draft pick of the Blackwater Bossing, was activated by the team on Thursday.

He was activated ahead of the Bossing’s clash with the NorthPort Batang Pier at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Jopia was activated in lieu of Mike Ayonayon.

After winning their first game in the PBA Season 48 Commissioner’s Cup, Blackwater dropped its next eight games.

The Bossing are currently second to the last in the standings with a 1-8 slate and already out of playoff contention.

Despite this, Jopia’s activation is a welcome development for a Blackwater team that gave up more than 100 points in five of their last six contests.

A tall and lanky defender, Jopia averaged 5.4 points, 6.9 rebounds, 1.1 blocks and 0.8 assists for the Red Lions in the recently concluded NCAA Season 99 elimination round.

In the best-of-three finals against the Mapua Cardinals, Jopia averaged 7.3 points, 7.7 rebounds and 2.0 blocks.

He made it difficult for Mythical Five member Warren Bonifacio of Mapua to score and rebound in the finals series.

In December last year, Jopia signed a two-year deal with Blackwater.