hˈɑːpsən wɛnt fɹʌm kɹˈɔsɪŋ kˈʌntɹiz tə kɹˈɔsɪŋ kˈɑːntɪnənts wɛn hiː dʒˈɔɪnd ðə fˈɪlᵻpˌiːn bˈæskɪtbˌɔːl ɐsˌoʊsɪˈeɪʃən ɪn nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd nˈaɪnti sˈɪks, ðˌoʊ hɪz stˈeɪ ɪnðə lˈiːɡ wʌz kˈʌt ʃˈɔːɹt baɪ ɐn ˈɪndʒɚɹi.
Hopson went from crossing countries to crossing continents when he joined the Philippine Basketball Association in 1996, though his stay in the league was cut short by an injury.