Rondae Hollis-Jefferson was left confused after being called for a technical foul late in TNT’s PBA Commissioner’s Cup encounter with Blackwater, Friday.
The veteran import couldn’t find any basis behind that call he incurred at the 3:53-mark of the fourth quarter, shortly after being whistled for a foul against Mike Ayonayon, who suffered an apparent knee injury in that play.
“I don’t know where that came from because nothing I did was intentional,” he said moments after their 105-96 win at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
RHJ defended Ayonayon when the latter ran the floor and tried to get past his defense, but the latter fell down as his right knee appeared to have buckled.
The Bossing guard, though, was able to stand up and walk on his own, and even made both of his free throws before being subbed out for good.
Replays showed that there was little to no contact between both men, thus the perplexity on the part of the former NBA cager that he picked up a foul.
It was then compounded by the technical foul for resentment to a call just moments later, which Hollis-Jefferson totally disagreed with.
“I don’t even think I stepped on him if you look at the play,” said the 28-year-old, who finished with a 42-12-8 stat line.” So I don’t know who made the call back there that said that it was a technical. I do not agree with it at all.”
Nonetheless, Hollis-Jefferson is glad to see TNT end up with the victory, their second in a row and their fourth overall (4-3).
“We talked about it a lot: guys being ready, being locked in, being able to put the ball in the basket. and they came today ready to do that,” he said.
