Close to a first pro title, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson vows to go all out for TNT in PBA Finals

TNT import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson during the PBA Finals press conference. PBA IMAGES

MANILA, Philippines—A championship has been elusive for TNT import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson.

In his eight years as a pro—which includes stops in the NBA, and premier leagues in Turkey, Puerto Rico, and Korea—the American forward has never come close to competing for one.

That has been the case until his stint with the Tropang Giga here in the PBA Governors’ Cup.

“[I’m] extremely locked in. This is something I’ve dreamed of my whole life, you know, to win a professional championship,” he said on Monday during the championship series’ kickoff presser at Novotel Manila.

Standing in his way, however, is Barangay Ginebra and its assortment of tested stars, including beloved counterpart Justin Brownlee and reigning Most Valuable Player Scottie Thompson.

Still, Hollis-Jefferson is liking his chances.

“The work didn’t start coming into the PBA, it started when I was 5 years old. So I feel like I’m well-prepared,” he said. “My mindset, everything I’ve been through has shaped me to be in this position and to be ready for whatever’s thrown at us.”

“I feel like we got a great group of guys who are willing to go the distance to make sure we accomplish what we came here to accomplish,” he went on.

TNT and Ginebra slug it out in a race-to-four contest that gets going this Easter Sunday, and all Hollis-Jefferson could hope for is that the rest of the Tropang Giga go all out like him—regardless of the result.

“At the end of the day, that’s all we could do: Give our all. The outcome will be the outcome no matter what,” he said.

“As long as we leave everything on the floor, I’m OK leaving the Philippines with that.”

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