DON’T look for Rondae Hollis-Jefferson when Gilas Pilipinas plays friendly with Jordan over the weekend.
The three-time PBA Best Import of TNT Tropang 5G won’t be suiting up for the team in the 31st FIBA Asia Cup and will not be part of the Jordan squad that will take on the Filipinos in a tuneup game in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
The friendly will be the last for Gilas before it officially plunges into action in the quadrennial showcase that kicks off on August 5.
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“It’s already been confirmed. Will be playing Jordan. I’m not sure of the time, I just know it’s on the 2nd (August),” said Cone prior to leaving for the Desert.
“No, Rondae is not with Jordan. I think it’s (Dar) Tucker.”
But Hollis-Jefferson was listed by Jordan as part of its initial 24-man list submitted to FIBA along with Tucker, Freddy Ibrahim, guard Yazan Al Taweel, Ahmad Al Dwairi, Hashem Abbaas, and the two Olajuwons - Abdullah and Abdul Rahman.
This will be the first meeting between the two sides since battling for the gold medal in the basketball finals of the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China.
Hollis-Jefferson played for Jordan back then, but Justin Brownlee and the rest of Gilas won the match, 70-60, to end the country’s 61-year long gold-medal drought.
Asked if the absence of the former NBA player who has tormented Cone and Barangay Ginebra in three straight PBA Finals match-ups will be good for Gilas even if it’s only a tune up game, Cone answered in the affirmative.
“Anytime,” he said.
Gilas and Jordan belong in different groups in the FIBA Asia Cup and won’t likely meet at least until the playoffs should both teams advance.
Jordan is in Group C with China, India, and host Saudi Arabia, while the Philippines is in Group D with New Zealand, Chinese Taipei, and Iraq.
Hollis-Jefferson, who was signed to an exclusive one-year contract by TNT after leading the ballclub to back-to-back titles, was in the country recently to conduct a nationwide basketball clinic dubbed ‘RHJ on Tour’ presented by TNT.
READ How will exclusive TNT contract impact RHJ commitment to Jordan?
He also watched a few games of the Tropang 5G during the Philippine Cup Finals where they lost to the San Miguel Beermen.
The TNT import left the country last week and will be back by January of 2026 to help the franchise defend its Commissioner’s Cup title.
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