With the way he’s playing for Jordan in the ongoing FIBA Basketball World Cup, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson is tipped to be stronger, deadlier when he returns to TNT Tropang Giga in the Philippine Basketball Association.
Hollis-Jefferson, who is playing as Jordan’s naturalized player, has been putting up solid numbers of 31.5 points and nine rebounds in their first two matches in the prestigious 32-nation tournament.
He fired 24 points and nine rebounds in their 71-92 loss to Greece in the opener before erupting for a tournament-best 39 points in their 87-95 overtime loss to New Zealand.
Although the Jordanians have yet to pluck a win in the preliminaries of Group C, Hollis-Jefferson is making a lot of heads turn, including Tropang Giga head coach Jojo Lastimosa.
“RHJ will be himself, affecting his team with his all-around ability,” Lastimosa told DAILY TRIBUNE.
After the World Cup, Hollis-Jefferson will reinforce Jordan anew in the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, where he has a golden opportunity to rekindle his rivalry with Justin Brownlee.
Brownlee, the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel import whom Hollis-Jefferson defeated in the Best Import award of the previous Governors’ Cup, will serve as naturalized player of Gilas Pilipinas in the Asian Games set from 25
September to 8 October.
Aside from the Asian Games, Hollis-Jefferson will also join Quincy Miller in backstopping the Tropang Giga in the East Asia Super League.
“I’m not surprised that he has become an impact player for his team,” Lastimosa said. “He can affect a team in so many ways. He has proven that to us and he’s been continuously doing that and bringing that
same attitude to Jordan.”
