TNT coach Chot Reyes confirmed that Rondae Hollis-Jefferson played through a pulled hamstring that he has been dealing with since the semifinals of the PBA Commissioner's Cup.
Reyes confirmed a SPIN.ph report that Hollis-Jefferson was injured in Game 4 of the semifinal series against Rain or Shine but decided to play through.
READ Is there something bothering RHJ in PBA Finals?
The TNT coach admitted the team even tinkered on the idea of replacing Hollis-Jefferson with his brother Rahlir but decided to go with Rondae the rest of the way.
Rondae looked to have aggravated the injury during the final moments of Game 7, but still went on to finish the match.
“I think it was Game 4 of the semis where Rondae pulled his hamstring,” said Reyes after Game 7. “We were really worried. Without Jayson [Castro] and with Rondae hobbling, we didn’t know if we could get to the finals. But fortunately, we did.”
“And then in the finals, we were playing a full-strength, full-force Ginebra squad, great, well-constructed team, well-coached. And Rondae was not 100 percent,” said Reyes.
Reyes said the plan for a temporary replacement for RHJ never prospered because Rahlir, who already played for the Tropang Giga last season, had an offer abroad.
The TNT coach said they threw away the plan to get a new import since it will mean teaching him a system while the finals was ongoing.
“Actually, nandito ‘yung kapatid niya. Ang problema, after Game 2 or Game 3, nagkaroon siya ng offer. Sabi ko, patay tayo dito.”
“We had a long talk with Rondae. Our thinking is do we get a new guy who we are going to teach everything that we are trying to do, or go with a 70, 75-percent guy who knows everything that we want to do?
"We were really looking. Maybe we can fly somebody in. But in the end, we talked to him, and Rondae said ‘No’. He just told me to manage his minutes. If they take out Justin [Brownlee], take me out as well which is a miracle kasi never naman nagpapalabas ‘yun. That’s where you knew na may iniinda talaga siya,” said Reyes.
Reyes said RHJ’s injury showed during the finals were he didn’t get the numbers that he was usually producing during the eliminations.
Still, Reyes said Hollis-Jefferson did enough to win another championship . In Game 7, he had 25 points, 12 rebounds, two assists, two steals, and one block.
“I think it showed in his numbers. His shooting percentage was really way below his usual but he helped us in so many ways. Defensively, rebounding, and most importantly, the spirit, his warrior-like spirit, absolutely refusing to lose, and it rubs off on his teammates,” said Reyes.
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