Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

Tiebreaker Times

Basketball

RHJ embraces unfamiliar rest, eyes fresh legs for Game 6


Rondae Hollis-Jefferson has gotten so used to logging heavy minutes that sitting out the entire fourth quarter of TNT’s eventual win over Ginebra in Game 5 of the PBA Governors’ Cup Finals on Wednesday night felt so foreign to him.

The conference’s reigning two-time Best Import was subbed out by Coach Chot Reyes late in the third quarter, and the contest would soon be reduced to an all-Filipino matchup as the Kings pulled out Justin Brownlee as well.

“It felt weird, actually,” he told reporters moments after the 99-72 victory at the SMART Araneta Coliseum that gave them the 3-2 lead in the series.

“In this conference, I don’t know if it’s a fact or not, but I don’t think I sat whenever an import is at a game. I think it was the start of the fourth or something but Justin was on the bench and I was just like, ‘This feels weird.'”

But it was rather a welcome development for RHJ, who had been playing with little to no rest in this series. Game 2 and 3 saw him play all 48 minutes.

In Game 5, he only played for 31 minutes and finished with 16 points, the lowest he’s had in this Finals. Still, he had 10 rebounds, three assists, and a block.

Needless to say, it gets him well-rested for Game 6 on Friday at the Big Dome, where the Tropang GIga could finish it off and retain the throne.

“I don’t remember the last time I had rest in the fourth quarter, so we’ll see how it feels,” said Hollis-Jefferson, who hopes for his second PBA title.

“I’m gonna get in the gym, do what I do always, and have some good legs for y’all. I might make the dunk next time,” the 29-year-old winger added with a smile, pertaining to his missed dunk during the second quarter.

Hollis-Jefferson was indeed glad with how Game 5 turned out but that doesn’t make him too comfortable whatsoever heading into the potential clincher.

#ReadMore  Willie Marcial on Mark Barroca's fine: 'Pag inulit pa niya ulit, sususpendihin ko na siya'

“We know what’s at stake. And we know that at the end of the day, we’re one win away from being champions. So we know how they’ll come out, we know they’ll feel that kind of feeling of like, ‘We gotta do this, it’s now or never,'” he said.

“So with that, we have to be a team that is as cohesive as ever and locked in on what we have to do,” the former NBA veteran added. “I feel like our game plan and our mindset at the end of the day will take care of the rest.”

Written By

Oftentimes on the sidelines. Forever a student of the game. Morayta-bred.


You May Also Like

Basketball

Roger Pogoy got to familiarize himself with the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay ahead of the PBA Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup Finals...

Basketball

It may no longer be just about making the necessary adjustments for head coach Tim Cone and the rest of Barangay Ginebra after losing...

Basketball

TNT leaned on its hot shooting from beyond the arc early to beat Barangay Ginebra, 95-89, and gain the head start in the PBA...

Basketball

To say that their careers are forever intertwined may sound cliche, but that’s basically been the reality Tim Cone and Chot Reyes live in....

Basketball

Stephen Holt may find himself guarding another Best Player of the Conference candidate when the PBA Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup Finals gets rolling. Last...

Basketball

Rondae Hollis-Jefferson won’t hesitate to break his fast again if need be, now that TNT guns for gold in the PBA Season 49 Commissioner’s...

Basketball

Jamie Malonzo is itching to play in the PBA Finals again after sitting helplessly on the sidelines during Barangay Ginebra’s previous trip to the...

Basketball

Justin Brownlee is hoping to flip the script this time as Ginebra and TNT author another chapter to their rivalry in the PBA Season...

Advertisement