Teaser well received
Rondae Hollis-Jefferson’s postgame interview on television looked as if it would end normally with the usual thoughts and greetings after TNT’s commanding sweep of Magnolia in the PBA Governors’ Cup quarterfinals.
But the last two words he uttered got everyone’s attention, and got everyone talking again of the possibilities or the what-ifs.
“Pinoy ako! (I am a Filipino!)” Hollis-Jefferson said as the Tropang 5G moved on to the semifinals behind his prolific play.
Three years since making his PBA debut, Hollis-Jefferson has gotten accustomed to the league and to the country, which has bode well for a TNT side that dominated Magnolia and swept the Hotshots in the best-of-five series by an average margin of almost 20 points per contest.
Hollis-Jefferson delivered the coup de grace on the Hotshots on Halloween night, dropping 38 points that went with nine rebounds, capping it off with a fadeaway shot despite the double team put up by Peter Alfaro and Mark Barroca with less than two minutes left.
His form seemed like an indication that the Achilles injury that forced him to miss almost a year is now a distant memory. TNT now awaits if Barangay Ginebra can close out San Miguel Beer or if the Beermen can stage a mammoth comeback in their own quarterfinal affair the Gin Kings lead, 2-0.
It’s a second chance at adding another championship to the three he’s won in the past for a resume that has already made him among the best imports the PBA has ever seen. And he still has plenty of conferences to play.
“I’ve been here going almost four years, and you guys accepted [me],” he said. “You’ve been there, supported me through highs and lows, especially my TNT family. This past year has been really tough for me. My mother not being able to walk, my grandmother passing away, me tearing my Achilles, all this happening. One year has definitely been a lot.”
“So I leaned on my teammates and these guys in the Philippines a lot, in terms of love and support,” he went on. “That’s why you guys see me so much. So I just really appreciate it. And that was just a big shout out to you guys.”
When asked if he’s open to the possibility of switching his allegiances from being a naturalized player of Jordan, which he played for in the 2023 Fiba World Cup and Asian Games, to getting the same role with Gilas Pilipinas, Hollis-Jefferson could only smile, prompting TNT coach Chot Reyes to intervene.
“Next question,” Reyes said, drawing more laughter inside the press room.
But could that be a possibility?
Fiba rules state that players are no longer allowed to switch nationalities if the player had already played for a senior national team, though it’s said that a change could become a possibility with an approval from the Jordan Basketball Federation, in Hollis-Jefferson’s case.
Queries to Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas officials regarding that likelihood have yet to be responded as of press time.
******
Get real-time news updates: inqnews.net/inqviber
