TNT’s fate in the 2023-24 East Asia Super League (EASL) season now depends on the hands of the Hollis-Jeffersons.
Rondae Hollis-Jefferson teams up with his brother Rahlir for the first time in their playing careers as they reinforce the Tropang Giga in a do-or-die match versus Taipei Fubon, Wednesday night at the Sta. Rosa Sports Complex in Laguna.
Four years older than Rondae and an NBA G-League veteran who also made stops in Europe and Canada, Rahlir, 32, was tapped to fill in the shoes left behind by Quincy Miller, who played for a total of five games with the club.
Formerly of Converge, Miller played in their PBA Season 48 Commissioner’s Cup opener with Rondae in sick bay before fulfilling his EASL duties. The 31-year-old forward did not win any game with the flagship MVP franchise.
Rahlir’s entry comes at a time when the Tropang Giga are in dire need of a win over the Braves in the 7 p.m. duel to keep its semifinal hopes alive.
TNT is the only winless team in the EASL after fellow PBA team Meralco barged into the win column a week ago behind a gutsy 97-88 overtime win over reigning B. League champion Ryukyu at the Studio City Event Center in Macau.
The Tropang Giga are at the bottom of Group A with a 0-4 record.
Rahlir last week sat courtside at the SMART Araneta Coliseum and watched TNT score a 105-96 victory over Blackwater in PBA action.
“I’m just showing him what he is going to have to do when he comes out here: be aggressive, be a team player, play really good defense, and be a leader,” said Rondae, who tallied a 42-11-8 stat line in the victory.
“This is really big. So I appreciate (coach) Jolas and MVP (owner Manny V. Pangilinan) and all of those guys for allowing this to happen. Definitely, a dream come true for us,” added the former NBA player about teaming up with his bro.
Rondae was not around when the Tropang Giga lost their first home game at the same Laguna venue, 75-66, at the hands of the Chiba Jets.
Meanwhile, the visiting side from the P.League+ of Taipei, bannered by Fil-Am import Sedrick Barefield, is just above TNT in the Group A standings at 1-2.
The Braves’ lone victory came at the expense of the Tropang Giga, 106-97, a month ago at the Taipei Heping Basketball Gymnasium.
