Is Rahlir Hollis-Jefferson as good as his younger brother?
TNT Tropang Giga assistant coach Josh Reyes refused to speculate on the ability of their new import who will suit up in the East Asia Super League Home and Away season on 20 December at the Sta. Rosa Sports Complex in Sta. Rosa City in Laguna.
Reyes, who was tasked to handle the coaching chores while interim coach Jojo Lastimosa is busy in the Commissioner’s Cup of the Philippine Basketball Association, said they haven’t seized up Hollis-Jefferson, who will team up with his younger brother, Rondae, when they battle the Fubon Braves.
“That’s for all of us to find out,” Reyes, the son of TNT head coach Chot Reyes, said.
“Everything that we’ve seen in the highlights, these are all that we’ve seen on him. We only had one practice with him and it’s more of a walkthrough of what we do in the team.”
Unlike his younger brother, the 32-year-old Hollis-Jefferson never had the chance to play in the National Basketball Association. The closest he ever got to the NBA was when he played for the Delaware 87ers in the NBA G League nine years ago as well as with the Memphis Hustle three years ago in which he posted 6.1 points and 3.7 rebounds per game.
Still, Reyes believes that Hollis-Jefferson’s arrival will be a major boost as he shares the same approach to the game as his younger brother.
“Both of them are defensive-oriented players and with Rahlir joining Rondae, we’re hoping that we can develop more chemistry just like the other imports playing together in the EASL,” said Reyes, adding that Hollis-Jefferson will be replacing Quincy Miller as their reinforcement.
Before Meralco’s 97-88 win over the Ryukyu Golden Kings at the Studio City Event Center in Macau, Filipino clubs are having a hard time asserting their dominance in the EASL.
The Tropang Giga, however, are using their EASL stint to gain experience and toughness needed for the ongoing Commissioner’s Cup.
Despite the absence of key players like Roger Pogoy (heart condition), Poy Erram and Justin Chua (knee injuries) and Mikey Williams (disciplinary measures), the Tropang Giga stay afloat with a 4-3 record in the season-opening conference of the PBA.
