TNT import makes its return as he tries to save his team’s flickering semifinals hopes in a crucial showdown against visiting team Anyang Jung Kwan Jang in the East Asia Super League on Wednesday at the Philsports Arena.
With their chances of advancing into the next round on the line, the Tropang Giga will be fighting tooth and nail in the 7 p.m. tussle to remain in semis contention in Pool A.
TNT carries a 1-4 win-loss record.
The former National Basketball Association player makes a timely comeback, teaming up with older brother Rahlir Hollis-Jefferson to keep the Tropang Giga afloat.
The younger Hollis-Jefferson suffered an injury in TNT’s 80-69 win over the Taipei Fubon Braves last 20 December in Sta. Rosa, Laguna.
A win by TNT, however, doesn’t guarantee the franchise a semis seat outright.
The Tropang Giga would still have to pray that Taipei Fubon Braves win over the Anyang Red Boosters on 7 February in the hope of forging a three-way tie at second spot. A tiebreaker will be applied in case of a logjam to determine the second and last semifinalist in the bracket.
But the visiting reigning Korean Basketball League champion is also in need of victory.
Holding a 2-2 slate, the Red Booters can formally clinch a berth in the Final Four with a win to avoid complications in case a tie ensues at the end of the elimination phase.
Anyang will parade a new import in Jamil Wilson. The squad, however, will miss the services of injured Asian quota player Rhenz Abando.
The former National Collegiate Athletic Association Rookie of the Year-Most Valuable Player from Letran traveled with the team for a brief Manila homecoming.
Abando is still recovering from a harrowing spinal injury he sustained when he fell hard after getting pushed in mid-air by Goyang Sono import Chinanu Onuaku last month.
“I feel better now. I’ve been recovering for almost four weeks. I can’t say when my return will be but I still need two more weeks to work on my conditioning,” Abando said.
The 24-year-old high-flyer is set to undergo another CT scan when the team returns to Korea.
“We’ll know by then the timetable of my return. But for now, I still don’t know,” Abando, who admitted to still feeling pain on his back, said.
The Chiba Jets of Japan B. League completed a six-game sweep of its assignment in Group A to take the first semis ticket.
