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New TNT import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson in the PBA Governor’s Cup. – PBA PICTURES
TNT proved what coach Jojo Lastimosa called a “difficult decision” to switch imports despite being in the middle of the PBA Governor’s Cup eliminations.
At least for one game.
“People don’t know us, and now you might understand why we changed [imports]” said Lastimosa after Tropang Giga won 138-116 against Blackwater Bossing that saw new import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson produce 37 points, 13 rebounds, seven assists and two blocks at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Hollis-Jefferson, a former NBA starter with the Brooklyn Nets who was available “a little bit of everything” for TNT, was signed as a replacement even after original import Jalen Hudson led Tropang Giga to five wins from six games.
Hudson is very good on the offensive end, averaging 33.8 points per game, but TNT Management felt Hollis-Jefferson would give Tropang Giga a better chance in this conference title aspirations.
“I like to look at myself and say I’m a poor man’s LeBron [James], where it’s to make my teammates better, make the game flow,” he said. “And when the team needs me to score, I can do that too. That’s what I try to focus on.”
Hollis-Jefferson has acquitted himself so far, but his true worth will be tested when TNT prepares for a tough week against Meralco on Friday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum and San Miguel Beer scheduled for Sunday at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City.
History is missed
Hollis-Jefferson’s output in his TNT debut was actually second only to the team scoring award behind RR Pogoy, who finished with 40 points and fell five shy of tying his career high set in the 2020 Philippine Cup bubble in Pampanga.
Pogoy had some glowing words about Hollis-Jefferson, whose unselfishness helped TNT channel 16 triples on the way to blasting Bossing. Pogoy hit seven triples while Mikey Williams hit four.
“He really likes looking for his friends,” Pogoy said in Filipino. “He set up a lot of assists for us and I believe that’s one of the reasons why we were able to shoot so well from the field.”
Hollis-Jefferson fell three points short of a team with Pogoy becoming the first teammate to score 40 in a game. The last time that happened was when Presto teammates Terrance Bailey and Allan Caidic had 47 and 42 respectively against San Miguel Beer in 1992.
Williams had 14 points, Glenn Khobuntin scored 13 and Calvin Oftana added 11 for TNT, which dropped Blackwater to its fifth straight 1-6 record.
Import Troy Williams, who Hollis-Jefferson knew even before his NBA stints, scored 22 in Bossing’s latest setback.
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