‘Warrior spirit’: Hollis-Jefferson fights through injury to win 3rd title with TNT

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TNT coach Chot Reyes says Rondae Hollis-Jefferson refused to be replaced when the team explored options to bring in another import after the former NBA player got hurt at a crucial point in the playoffs

MANILA, Philippines – Injuries did not stop Rondae Hollis-Jefferson from leading TNT to another championship.

Tropang Giga coach Chot Reyes said the former NBA player refused to be replaced when the team explored options to bring in another import after Hollis-Jefferson got hurt at a crucial point in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup playoffs.

Hollis-Jefferson, according to Reyes, pulled his hamstring in Game 4 of their best-of-seven semifinals against Rain or Shine.

But Hollis-Jefferson, who won a third Best Import, opted to play through the pain and went on to steer TNT past Justin Brownlee and Barangay Ginebra in a grueling seven-game finale.

“We were really looking, maybe we could fly somebody in, but in the end, we talked to him, Rondae said, ‘No.’ He just told me, ‘Just manage my minutes.’ He said, ‘If they take out Justin, take me out as well,’ which is a miracle because he never wants to be taken out of the game,” said Reyes.

“But that’s why you knew that he’s in pain because he told me, ‘Just manage my minutes,’ because he’s not at 100 percent.”

Reyes said the Tropang Giga considered bringing back Hollis-Jefferson’s older brother, Rahlir, as he was in town to watch the finals, attending Games 1 and 3.

However, the older Hollis-Jefferson, who came in as a replacement when his brother went down with an injury in the Commissioner’s Cup last season, received an offer to play overseas.

“Our thinking was do we get a new guy who we’re going to teach everything that we’re trying to do or we go with the 70-75 percent guy who knows everything that we already want to do?” said Reyes.

TNT stuck with Hollis-Jefferson and got the job done.

Hollis-Jefferson averaged 23.7 points, 12.6 rebounds, 4.9 assists, and 1.4 steals in the finals as he won his third title with the Tropang Giga, all at the Gin Kings’ expense.

Aside from his hamstring injury, Hollis-Jefferson also dealt with abdominal pain after he crashed onto a speaker on the sideline when he tried to save the ball in Game 6.

The do-it-all import was so worn out after the series that he needed assistance to stand up.

“Rondae was not a 100 percent. I think it showed in his numbers, his shooting percentage was really way below his usual,” said Reyes.

“But he helps us in so many other ways — defensively, rebounding, and I think most importantly, the spirit. Just his warrior spirit, the mentality that he just absolutely refuses to lose and it rubs off on his teammates.”

Thanks to Hollis-Jefferson, TNT is in a position to join the ranks of the greatest teams in league history as it shoots for a rare Grand Slam in the upcoming Philippine Cup. – Rappler.com