PBA: Rondae Hollis-Jefferson lauds Rain or Shine for ‘tough battle’

Rondae Hollis Jefferson leads TNT to a PBA Governors’ Cup Finals return after ousting Rain or SHine. –PBA IMAGES

MANILA, Philippines—As TNT booked a return to the PBA Governors’ Cup Finals, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson acknowledged Rain or Shine’s efforts for making things hard for him throughout five games.

TNT successfully ousted Elasto Painter in Game 5, 113-95, at Ynares Sports Center in Antipolo to finish the series at 4-1.

But if you ask Hollis-Jefferson, the wins don’t reflect the real story.

READ: PBA: RHJ, TNT back in the Finals after ousting Rain or Shine

For him, winning 4-1 was anything but easy.

“I feel good. I want to give credit to Rain or Shine. They made me work for everything that I’ve got and it was a tough battle,” said RHJ.

“We won 4-1 but you have to give credit to those guys who were rotating on me. Aside from tonight, I struggled from the field. You just have to give credit to the guys who were willing to put that effort forward.”

TNT Tropang Giga. –PBA IMAGES

He found his stride anew in the Game 5 win with an all-around game of 36 points, 11 rebounds, nine assists and six steals.

Friday’s outing was just a follow-up game for Hollis-Jefferson after having posted 23 points and 19 rebounds with five assists, five steals and five blocks in Game 4.

READ: PBA: With defense focused on him, RHJ still finds ways for TNT

The 2023 Governors’ Cuyp Best Import offered the final return to the rest of the team outside the players and the coaching staff.

“This win wasn’t just about me or Chot (Resys), it was about the people who helped us, the support staff, the guys who don’t play who may not be doing so good, this was about them,” he said.

The Tropang Giga await for their dance partner in the Finals with Ginebra now just a win away from eliminating San Miguel and setting a showdown with RHJ and company.

But who ever will be on the other side of that court come the Finals, expect Hollis-Jefferson to come out firing just the same.

“That’s (Finals) not the end for us. We want to be champions. At the end of the day, we know what we have to do. We’ll take this rest, lock in and see who wins the other series. That’s what it’s about at the end of the day.”