Reigning Best Import awardee Rondae Hollis-Jefferson is inching closer to signing a new deal for TNT Tropang Giga that will see action in the Philippine Basketball Association Commissioner’s Cup that opens on 15 October.
TNT team manager Jojo Lastimosa made the confirmation to Daily Tribune, saying that they are now ironing out the details of Hollis-Jefferson’s new contract.
“We are currently working on his contract,” Lastimosa said in a Viber message to Daily Tribune.
After leading TNT to the title of the season-ending Governors’ Cup, Hollis-Jefferson was given another tour of duty, this time in the Commissioner’s Cup in which teams are allowed to bring in reinforcements not taller than 6-foot-10.
Only two conferences will be played this season as the league gives way for the country’s hosting of the FIBA Basketball World Cup set from 25 August to 10 September.
‘We are currently working on his contract.’
Lastimosa said Hollis-Jefferson has what it takes to battle taller, heftier imports.
“I have no doubt that Rondae will make an impact against taller imports, so we’re bringing him back,” Lastimosa stressed.
The battle that Hollis-Jefferson and the Tropang Giga will be facing is not easy.
For one, their Governors’ Cup finals foe — Barangay Ginebra San Miguel — will be bringing back six-time PBA champion Justin Brownlee while other teams are expected to deploy taller reinforcements sprinkled with new players from the coming Annual Rookie Draft.
Still, Lastimosa intends to keep his team intact.
“We just need all of them back and healthy,” Lastimosa said.
“We don’t have picks in the coming draft.”
Having no pick in the draft is nothing new to the Tropang Giga. In fact, they also faced the same situation two years ago, but were able to pull off a last-minute move by getting involved in a deal with NLEX and Blackwater to land the fourth overall pick.
TNT used the pick to select Mikey Williams, who is now becoming as its franchise player.
Lastimosa said he doesn’t see any opportunity in the coming draft so their main focus is just to come up with a healthy core, especially after losing star swingman Roger Pogoy and backup center Justin Chua to injury during the Governors’ Cup finals.
Pogoy fractured his pinky finger while Chua hurt his knee, prompting both of them to sit out the series.
Even rising star Calvin Oftana is still recuperating from an injured calf he suffered while playing for Gilas Pilipinas in the 32nd Southeast Asian Games last month.
He has yet to report to report for duty both for Gilas Pilipinas and the Tropang Giga.
TNT is currently playing in the PBA On Tour with new players like Clifford Jopia, Damie Cuntapay and Peter Alfaro.
