HANGZHOU, China — Justin Brownlee and Rondae Hollis-Jefferson found themselves at opposite ends of the court when Gilas Pilipinas battled Jordan in the men’s basketball event of the 19th Asian Games late Saturday at the Hangzhou Olympic Center here.
Brownlee said Hollis-Jefferson is a “likable guy” but he was all business during their 87-62 match won by Jordan for a spot in the quarterfinals of this prestigious quadrennial event.
Brownlee and Hollis-Jefferson have a lot of similarities inside the court.
Aside from being all-around players with feathery touch from the perimeter and high basketball IQ, both reinforcements are also leaders who can step up when the game is on the line.
Their rivalry kicked off in the Governors’ Cup of the previous Philippine Basketball Association season in which Hollis-Jefferson led the TNT Tropang Giga to the title over Brownlee and Barangay Ginebra San Miguel.
Now, they are stacked against each other anew when Brownlee became a naturalized player of the Philippines while Hollis-Jefferson joined Jordan.
“When you get in those lines and the ball goes up, everybody is a hundred percent or, you know, at least a hundred percent effort. That’s the main thing that matters,” Bronwlee said.
“At this point, after a couple of games, people get banged up and get tired and, you know, sore and things like that. But for the most part, we just gotta go out and give a hundred percent effort and I think everything’s gonna take care of itself.”
He, however, clarified that his rivalry with Hollis-Jefferson will just be limited inside the court.
“As far as, you know, playing with fire and competing at the highest level with somebody, I’m definitely willing to do that every time I step on the court,” he said.
“So it’s not about hating him because Rondae, he’s a likable guy. You know, he’s always smiling’ and greeting’ and has all respect and kindness, and you’re gonna respect that also. But once we’re on those lines, it’s all about competition.”
