Defense has always been a top priority for Stephen Holt, especially after he was traded to a team as talent-laden as Ginebra back in July.
But on Tuesday night, he provided a reminder of just how good he is on the offensive side of the floor, leading his team to a 119-91 decimation of NLEX.
In what was easily his best game in a Kings jersey, Holt finished with 26 points on 11-of-19 shooting from the field, along with 11 rebounds, six assists, and a steal, delivering a masterful performance to bounce back from a rare defeat to Blackwater last week.
“I was able to have success offensively,” he said post-game at the SMART Araneta Coliseum. “And hopefully, I can carry that on for this conference.”
The 2023 top overall pick led all scorers, and his standout performance was the result of a conscious effort to provide much-needed support to Justin Brownlee.
The three-time Best Import has been carrying much of the load for a team that’s been building chemistry anew with the arrival of new players. Against the Bossing alone, Brownlee scored 37 points, albeit on 34 shots, with six rebounds and five assists.
(C) PBA Images
“Coming into this game, I had to step up offensively, obviously to take pressure off Justin and some of the other players,” said the 32-year-old.
And he did, achieving a solid redemption after scoring just five points in the previous game against the George King-led Blackwater.
Yet, he takes more pride in his defense, particularly in helping to guard opposing reinforcement Myke Henry, who finished with only 16 points on 16 attempts and committed seven turnovers in 41 minutes.
Defense has always been his M.O., Holt said: “You can just see the little things are being highlighted even more. I was a good defender in Terrafirma, but with this team, I think it’s being highlighted even more.
“Being able to, you know, defend their imports and just be a total team player. At the end of the day, I’m here to win and do whatever Coach tells me to do. Tonight was a great offensive game for me,” he continued.
“I know it’s not gonna be like that every single game but at the end of the day, it’s all about your mindset and being aggressive on both ends of the floor, so hopefully, I can continue that.”
