PBA Finals: Motivation? Rondae Hollis-Jefferson has a lot of it

TNT import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson during Game 1 of the PBA Governors’ Cup Finals.–PBA IMAGES

MANILA, Philippines—Rondae Hollis-Jefferson never runs out of reasons to keep going and stay locked in until the goal is met.

Hollis-Jefferson said he has plenty of motivation as he tries to lead TNT to back-to-back championships in the PBA Governors’ Cup.

“I’m motivated [even] before the introductions,” said the former NBA veteran in an interview with Inquirer Sports on Sunday night.

READ: PBA Finals: Tireless Hollis-Jefferson unfazed by heavy minutes in Game 1

“I’m motivated for our teammates, the people who don’t make that much money, for the people who helped me every day.”

Fired up, Hollis-Jefferson was a man on a mission, powering the Tropang Giga to a 104-88 rout of Ginebra in Game 1 of the PBA Finals in Antipolo.

The tireless Hollis-Jefferson, who played close to 46 minutes of action, posted 19 points, 10 rebounds, four assists and three blocks.

READ: PBA Finals: Past losses continue to fire up Rondae Hollis-Jefferson 

Past failures and losses drive Hollis-Jefferson the most and so does his support system which includes his fans, teammates and coaches.

“I still hold on to my senior high school loss to Lower Merion, Kobe’s high school. I still hold on to that to this day,” said Hollis-Jefferson in a previous interview. “I hold on to my Elite 8 loss to Frank Kaminsky. Those things motivate me to take a step higher, work even harder and not run out of battery.”

“The chants, I appreciate them, I love the support but motivation-wise, I wake up motivated because I’m always thinking about those people,” he said on the Kobe chants he drew on Sunday as his name was introduced before tipoff.