New TNT import Rahlir Hollis-Jefferson. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines—Rahlir Hollis-Jefferson made one thing clear in his debut for TNT Tropang Giga in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup.
He is Rahlir and his younger brother is Rondae and they’re two different players. With that in mind, the older Hollis-Jefferson said he’s under no pressure to try and replicate or go greater than his younger brother.
“[There’s] no pressure. He’s his own player and I’m my own. We both strive to go out there and win so there’s no pressure,” said Rahlir at Araneta Coliseum on Friday.
While his first game for the Tropang Giga wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows as they bowed to Rain or Shine, 119-112, Rahlir still made a solid statement.
In 44 tiresome minutes, Hollis-Jefferson announced his arrival to the league with a 50-piece plus 16 rebounds to match.
“My mindset was just to go in the game and try to do whatever I could to help the team win. Unfortunately, we fell short but I did what I could. Maybe next time I have to do a little bit more.”
“I didn’t go into the game saying I was going to score that much. I went there thinking that I would go and score, play defense and do whatever I could to attempt to get a win.”
The younger Hollis-Jefferson, Rondae, wasn’t devoid of the spotlight in the loss either.
After Rahlir was called for a technical foul in the crucial moment of the ballgame, Rondae went on to defend his kin by demanding an explanation from the referee.
An action that got him locking horns with the Elasto Painters’ bench.
For Rahlir, seeing his brother defend him was nothing out of the ordinary. After all, that’s what brothers are for.
“That’s my brother. That’s what we’re going to do, stand by each other, no matter what. I didn’t know what happened though, I was still focused on the game, I just happened to turn and see him over there.”