The TNT Tropang Giga had a golden chance to go up 2-0 in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals against Barangay Ginebra San Miguel. Unfortunately, import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson blundered TNT’s final two possessions that could’ve given them the lead in the last minute of Game 2, allowing their rivals to escape with a 71-70 victory and tie the series at 1-1.
In those two possessions, RHJ turned it over once before missing badly on a wild desperation fadeaway in the very next play. The first time around, he jostled for possession against Stephen Holt, got it at the free throw line and refused to kick it out to a wide open Rey Nambatac—even as Holt and Scottie Thompson were double-teaming him aggressively.
Then, in TNT’s final play, with Ginebra up 71-70, RHJ got the ball at the top of the arc and dribbled left, only to be cut off by Holt. As he turned back, Thompson ambushed him with yet another double-team, causing a scramble for the ball as the time ticked away. Hollis-Jefferson got the rock back and had no choice but to throw up an off-balanced fadeaway that missed badly.
Just like that, it was game over.
“I’ll probably watch that shot 20 times. You know, I want to say two or three possessions I didn’t even get a shot off. So, that’s on me,” the Best Import of the Conference shoo-in told reporters after Game 2. “I expected the double. They [Ginebra] don’t want me to get the shot out the last seconds. They knew I wanted to shoot the ball, but when I lost it, I just couldn’t pick it back up. And the rest was history.”
‘All About Getting Better’ Now as Hollis-Jefferson Prepares for Game 3 and Beyond
Indeed, the man simply known as RHJ is owning up those two botched possessions. And expect that experience to fuel him moving forward as he looks to learn where he went wrong in those finals two plays.
“That’s something I want to get better at or grow from it. You know, I’ll watch it. I’m not afraid to see where I messed up, where I made a mistake,” Hollis-Jefferson further said. “Hopefully, Chot [Reyes] calls me out on it. I’m good with that, so it’s all about getting better.”
Given the intense but honest dynamic Reyes shares with his TNT wards, best believe the fiery mentor has talked to his import about what went wrong and how to make it right.
Best believe, too, that Rondae Hollis-Jefferson is raring to be better for the Tropa.
