TNT looks to ‘play bigger’ behind ex-Nets starting forward

Jalen Hudson (right) leaves TNT with a 5-1 record.—AUGUST DELA CRUZ

Several teams have gone on to replace imports who were either miscast or not good enough. TNT, one of three teams sharing the early lead in the PBA Governors’ Cup is making a reinforcement switch to go from good to way better, hoping to unlock another dimension of its game.

The Tropang Giga have signed former Brooklyn Nets starter Rondae Hollis-Jefferson (RHJ), who will replace Jalen Hudson starting on Wednesday’s duel with Blackwater.

“We’re hoping that RHJ can make us a better defensive team and even more versatile. He’s not as gifted as [Hudson] offensively, but he brings a lot of energy on the court,” he told the Inquirer on the eve of the clash.

Hollis-Jefferson, an American forward who had stints with two other NBA clubs aside from the Nets, takes over an import who played a huge role in TNT assembling a 5-1 record thus far.

Hudson once dropped 56 points and 12 rebounds against early leader Converge after being limited to just 14 points by Magnolia.

Interim coach Jojo Lastimosa said that reeling in Hollis-Jefferson enables TNT to become even more assertive in the paint.

“It also frees up our wing position which was taken up by Jalen. Now we can play bigger if we want to,” he said.

Hollis-Jefferson’s ability to play big will help a TNT squad still trying to coax more out of new acquisition Justin Chua. The veteran center, acquired via a three-team trade last month, has been averaging only 5.3 points and 3.0 rebounds for the Tropang Giga so far.

TNT has also been missing defensive center Poy Erram, who is still recuperating from a knee procedure.

The 28-year-old Hollis-Jefferson owns seven-season NBA averages of 9.0 points and 5.5 rebounds per game. Picked 23rd by the Nets in the 2015 Rookie Draft, the former Arizona standout in the US National Collegiate Athletic Association had his best year in the 2017-2018 season, when he averaged 13.9 points and 6.8 rebounds per game. Hollis-Jefferson comes in just as the Tropang Giga are set to run through a tough schedule. After the Blackwater match, TNT will play Meralco, San Miguel Beer and defending champion Barangay Ginebra. INQ