PBA: RHJ drops 42 as TNT blasts Blackwater

TNT import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson. —PBA IMAGES

Rondae Hollis-Jefferson let out one of his usual lines while pointing out the importance of the difficult stretch TNT hopes to hurdle.

“We have to be really locked in,” Hollis-Jefferson said after the Tropang Giga pulled off another win in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the expense of the slumping Blackwater Bossing, 105-96, Friday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

TNT improved to 4-3 in the season-opening conference after taking the middle part of three games in five days that began with Wednesday’s comeback win over NLEX at Philsports Arena in Pasig City.

But the final phase of the schedule is on Sunday, when the Tropang Giga go up to Ynares Center in Antipolo City to face the San Miguel Beermen, who at presstime were facing Barangay Ginebra.

Sweeping the busy slate would give TNT more momentum going into the resumption of its East Asia Super League (EASL) stint on Dec. 20 against Taiwan’s Fubon Braves followed by the PBA’s Christmas Day doubleheader with Ginebra.

Christmas showdown

The EASL home game, booked to be held in Sta. Rosa, Laguna, will see TNT parade its new second import for the competition in Hollis-Jefferson’s older brother Rahlir, who was signed as a replacement for Quincy Miller, while TNT takes on Ginebra for the first time since their Governors’ Cup Finals showdown in April.

“This is really a bad stretch for us,” said coach Jojo Lastimosa, who still expressed confidence that TNT can get the job done.

“I think for the guys that have been in this situation before, especially being in the Finals, this is nothing new for them. It’s just matter of focusing and being mentally tough to go through this. This is not anymore physical and I think they’re ready for it.”