PBA: Rondae Hollis-Jefferson approves of Quincy Miller

TNT import Quincy Miller. PBA IMAGES

MANILA, Philippines–Rondae Hollis-Jefferson likes what he has been seeing from TNT’s stand-in import Quincy Miller.

“He’s been on a wonderful journey, he’s been getting better and I’m just happy to have him and to be here [and be able to] talk to him,” the resident Tropang Giga import told reporters shortly after a season-opening 110-102 defeat at the hands of Magnolia on Sunday.

Miller had 37 points in the losing effort, leading a severely undermanned Tropang Giga side—a testament to his professionalism, according to Hollis-Jefferson.

“Whatever I see out there, I just try to tell him—like hey, try to get some easier baskets, try to do these things or that,” he said. “It’s just a dialogue one has with players just because we see things from a different perspective.”

Hollis-Jefferson has taken a backseat to Miller while he continues his recovery from a stomach problem. Turns out, the pair go way back.

“I knew Quincy since my rookie season in Brooklyn and he’s been a great guy,” Hollis-Jefferson said.

Injured forward Rondae Hollis-Jefferson watches on the TNT bench.–PBA IMAGES

Miller was with the Nets in 2015 and spent time training with Hollis-Jefferson throughout the preseason. The former was eventually waived, while the latter went on to play four seasons with the club, even cracking the starting lineup.

Miller then found his way to the PBA, suiting up for Converge in last year’s Commissioner’s Cup. Hollis-Jefferson was then tapped by TNT for its eventual run-up to the Governors’ Cup title.

Hollis-Jefferson revealed that he will be good to go for the Tropang Giga in a week’s time, but Miller has already expressed interest in playing against the FiberXers according to interim head coach Jojo Lastimosa.

“Quincy will be playing for now. He wants to play. Rondae told him so. We all know that he has an ax to grind,” he said with a smirk.

Miller was once shelved by the Converge brain trust for coming late to a team practice. That benching later led to a four-game dry spell, including a loss against San Miguel Beer that showed the FiberXers the door in the quarterfinals.

TNT plays Converge this Saturday at Ynares Center in Antipolo City.