RONDAE Hollis-Jefferson was mum when asked by the media if he is interested to play for the Gilas Pilipinas national team on Saturday night.
RHJ was posed with the question after a postgame interview on the Sports5 broadcast after Game 3 of the PBA 50th Season Governors’ Cup quarterfinals where he finished it off with the words ‘Pinoy ako.’
“We appreciate you guys, thank you,” said RHJ during the postgame presser, his way of playfully eluding the question.
READ: TNT completes sweep of Magnolia, books Governors Cup semis berth
At the moment, Hollis-Jefferson has Jordan as his home country, as far as FIBA classification is concerned, being its naturalized player.
RHJ played for Jordan during the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup and even the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China where the Falcons lost to Gilas Pilipinas in the gold medal match.
But sports columnist Quinito Henson noted on his X account recently that RHJ can play for Gilas Pilipinas if he agrees with the nationality switch from Jordan to the Philippines.
The switch should also be approved by Jordan’s basketball federation, and FIBA also approves as “exception to allow RHJ to play for a developing national program,” according to Henson.
Regardless, there is no question that he loves the Philippines so much which is why when he said ‘Pinoy ako,’ it was from the heart.
“One of my friends taught me that word (Pinoy ako) and what it meant, (my friend) said I had to say it with some gusto. I really mean it,” said Hollis-Jefferson after he churned 38 points for TNT in its 98-87 win over Magnolia in Game 3 to advance to the semifinals.
RHJ said the support of the Filipino people to him, not just in basketball but in his personal life, has kept him from returning to the Philippines and play for TNT.
But the outpour of support through a trying year in 2026 have elevated his love for the Philippines even more.
“I’ve been here going on four years and you guys accepted me, been there, supported me, highs and lows, especially my TNT family,” Hollis-Jefferson said.
“This past year has been really tough on me. My mother, not being able to walk. My grandmother passing away, me tearing my Achilles, all this happening in one year. It’s definitely a lot. So I leaned on my teammates and these guys in the Philippines a lot in terms of love and support. That’s why you guys see me so much," he added.
“So I really appreciate it and that was just a big shoutout to you guys (Filipinos). So thank you."
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