PBA: Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, Brownlee headline returning imports
Rondae Hollis-Jefferson returns for another go-around with TNT Tropang Giga, this time in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup. -MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines—TNT import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson is out for more gold.
After winning his second PBA Governors’ Cup title with the Tropang Giga, Hollis-Jefferson will remain with TNT for the upcoming Commissioner’s Cup in hopes of beginning a grandslam bid for TNT.
Article continues after this advertisementRHJ will be entering the second conference of the PBA’s 49th season after posting norms of 28.0 points, 12.9 rebounds, 6.4 assists, 2.9 steals and 1.9 blocks per game.
READ: PBA Finals: Motivation? Rondae Hollis-Jefferson has a lot of it
He was also hailed as the conference’s Best Import, zooming past Ginebra’s longtime reinforcement, who will also be making a comeback in the upcoming conference.
Article continues after this advertisementJust weeks after Gin Kings coach left the decision for Brownlee to return or not, the league’s list of imports for the next conference basically confirmed that the Gilas naturalized big will return to action in the PBA.
Rondae Hollis Jefferson and Justin Brownlee go at it during the PBA Governors’ Cup Finals between Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings and TNT Tropang Giga. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
Brownlee, who will first be competing for Gilas before suiting up again for Ginebra, averaged 28.3 points, 9.2 rebounds, 5.8 assists 1.6 steals 1.5 blocks per outing in the previous tournament.
READ: Justin Brownlee highly motivated for Gilas after PBA Finals loss
Another returnee from last conference is George King, who will be suiting up once more for Blackwater.
Initially not listed as Bossing’s primary import, King was called up in the later part of the elimination round where he couldn’t power the squad to enough wins for a playoff spot.
King even ended Blackwater’s campaign with a 64-point outburst at the expense of Rain or Shine, ending the squad’s mediocre run on a high note.
Ricardo Ratcliffe will also be donning the Magnolia jersey once more.
The other squads, meanwhile, will have new faces to show for.
Meralco will have the services of Akil Mitchell while NLEX and Converge took in big names for the anticipated conference.
The Road Warriors will tap former NBA veteran Ed Davis while the FiberXers will have former Oklahoma Thunder standout Chieck Diallo.
Donovan Smith joins Phoenix while Rain or Shine gets Kenneth Kadji. San Miguel Beer, on the other hand, might tap Quincy Miller as he’s currently the option for the Beermen should they not get back the services of Bennie Boatwright, who’s currently dealing with an injury.
