Big game from RHJ puts TNT on verge of Finals
Rondae Hollis-Jefferson spoke more about the bottom line than how it felt to atone for his shortcoming in the previous game, with a go-ahead basket and a decisive rebound that put TNT ahead 3-1 over Rain or Shine in the PBA Governors’ Cup semifinals.
“At the end of the day, it’s just basketball. You gonna make some and you gonna miss some,” Hollis-Jefferson said after the Tropang Giga’s 81-79 victory on Wednesday that put them with a win of closing out the best-of-seven series and returning to the Finals of the tournament, which they won in 2023.
TNT prevailed after Hollis-Jefferson slammed the ball with 37 seconds left to break the game’s final tie and beat out Jhonard Clarito for the rebound to produce a reversal of the ending three nights earlier in Dasmarinas, Cavite.
Hollis-Jefferson missed a potential game-winner in the previous match as TNT was denied a third consecutive triumph in the race-to-four semifinals.
This time, the result favored the Tropang Giga, who will have their first chance at punching their ticket to the championship round against either Barangay Ginebra or the San Miguel Beermen this Friday at Ynares Center in Antipolo City.
“I wanted to make sure that we came out with a win, that we secure a score, we secure a stop and that’s what happened,” said Hollis-Jefferson, who finished with 23 points, 19 rebounds, five assists, five steals and five blocks.
Hollis-Jefferson ended his evening by taking a deep breath, seemingly relieved over the result which he said was not his sole responsibility.
“At the end of the day, you gotta give credit to the team. It was a team effort,” he continued. “It wasn’t just about me rebounding, it wasn’t just me out there scoring. If you don’t worry about the guys making big shots, then I don’t get a chance to get downhill and get that dunk.”
One of those making big shots was Rey Nambatac, who continued to torch his former team in the series by knocking down a three that broke a 76-all tie with 1:15 remaining. He finished with 15 points, 11 rebounds and four assists for the Tropang Giga.
Gather, go up strong
While Rain or Shine did respond with a three-point play from Santi Santillan in the ensuing play, TNT worked up a play for Hollis-Jefferson to dribble the ball from the other end of the floor before converting an emphatic slam in a matter of eight seconds after the inbound.
“I knew we really needed a basket,” Hollis-Jefferson recalled. “[TNT coach Chot Reyes] always tells me to go off with two feet. He’s been telling all of us to gather, go up strong. So it was just having that mindset, and I know most teams don’t want me to go downhill with a full head of steam.
“Once I knew I had that angle, it was just about finding my balance,” he added.
Rain or Shine got 22 points and 18 rebounds from import Aaron Fuller, but Gian Mamuyac couldn’t convert on a game-tying drive, which resulted in Hollis-Jefferson getting the rebound off Clarito, who thought a foul should have been called.
But the ElastoPainters reluctantly accepted the result, and will need to orchestrate a massive comeback only a few teams have done in the league’s 49-year history.
