CHICAGO - "Ayaw daw mag pa sub," a source told me as import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson continues to rack up hard minutes in the ongoing PBA Governors' Cup Finals.
In a best-of-seven series that is now tied at 2-2, the former NBAer has only rested for 3:06 of the 192 minutes played through four games.
Whether or not RHJ will continue to toil like a construction worker remains up in the air.
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"He feels he doesn't have to pace himself," TNT assistant coach Josh Reyes told me in a telephone interview Monday night.
Fair enough.
If the newly-crowned Best Import wants to reprise Ruseel Crowe's movie role as "Master and Commander" he certainly can. It's his legs to punish, his lungs to burn.
MVP NUMBERS.
Even with his incredible pace, he is still averaging a stout 27 points, 11.5 rebounds, 5.5 assists, 2 steals and 1.2 blocks per. He is also shooting 43 percent from the field (40-of-93) and 42.5 percent from 3 (12-of-28).
A discernible weakness is the four-point shot and the free throws where he is 0-for-4 and 15-of-22, respectively.
Obviously, Hollis-Jefferson needs help.
"Everyone needs to do better," Reyes conceded.
Calvin Oftana certainly has done his share with 14.2 points and 7.2 rebounds per while Roger Pogoy and Rey Nambatac chipped in a combined 20.1 points per outing between them.
MISFIRING.
As a group, though, the trio connected only on 51 of 117 shots (43.5 percent) including just 20 of 57 from 3 (35 percent). Those percentages have to be better to soften the belly of Ginebra's defense and allow RHJ to penetrate.
Poy Erram has been solid overall, 31 points and 11 rebounds from Games One through Three. But his disappearing act in Game Four, where he settled with 3 points and 1 rebound, can't happen again.
Erram's production is imperative in mitigating the damage Ginebra's Japeth Aguilar is inflicting on both ends of the floor.
It won't hurt to have "The Blur" Jayson Castro rewind the clock a few more games. Contributions from Kelly Williams, Brian Heruela, Kim Aurin and Glenn Khobuntin will be most welcomed as well.
After losing the first two games, Kings coach Tim Cone was so magnanimous with his praise in a way where he made it sound like TNT's Chot Reyes was his daddy.
"I'm totally being outclassed and outcoached," Cone confessed.
But the 25-time PBA champion has since pushed back with a vengeance, pulling a couple of rabbits out of his deep hat of tricks.
Now reeling on the ropes, how would Chot Reyes respond?
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