THE mere presence of its injured leader was enough to get the fire back for TNT.
Rondae Hollis-Jefferson briefly showed up in the Tropang 5G’s game against the Macau Black Knights on Friday night in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup which they won, 119-112, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The three-time Best Import visited the team in practice upon arrival on Thursday and then, personally supported his teammates at the game, his head covered in a hoodie as he watched from ringside.
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Coach Chot Reyes appreciated the 31-year-old Hollis-Jefferson coming over to see the Tropang 5G while recovering from the ruptured Achilles tendon he suffered last year while onloan to Meralco in the East Asia Super League.
“Just the presence of Rondae and talking to the guys. But he also had a pretty long discussion with (Bol Manute) Bol,” Reyes said following the win over the Black Knights. “I thought it lifted the energy and spirit of the guys.
“His gravitas and leadership is a big part of our team.”
Hollis-Jefferson also came over to attend the Jolas Cup, the annual basketball camp and tournament run by TNT team manager Jojo Lastimosa in Cagayan De Oro.
“Rondae has been doing the rounds for the company as part of community building initiatives of PLDT and Smart. And Rondae is really the face of that program,” said Reyes of RHJ, who had a round of golf at the Navy course shortly after arriving in the country early Thursday morning.
“So it’s natural for him to continue being the ambassador really of the grassroots initiatives. That’s why he came.”
Asked what Rondae and Bol talked about in practice, Lastimosa said he has not a single inkling.
“Hindi ko alam kung ano pinag-usapan nila. Hindi ko tinanong si Rondae,” said the TNT team manager. “Pero hinimas-himas niya lang.”
Hollis-Jefferson and Bol got to play against each other in the NBA where the Jordan naturalized player suited up from 2016 to 2021, while Bol was in the league from 2019 to 2025.
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