FORMER Korea imports square off on Wednesday when TNT goes up against Magnolia Chicken Timplados in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup.
Rondae Hollis-Jefferson renew acquaintances with Ricardo Ratliffe in their Wednesday showdown at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
The two were former Korean Basketball League imports with Hollis-Jefferson playing for Jeonju KCC Egis from 2022 to 2023. Of course, Ratliffe played the longest among the two, being under contract with the national team from 2018 to 2024.
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Ratliffe were even teammates with Hollis-Jefferson during his Jeonju KCC Egis days aside from stints with Seoul Samsung Thunders and Mobis Phoebus.
“I’m looking forward to it. That’s my guy,” said Ratliffe in an interview with SPIN.ph last November after one of the tune-up games that Magnolia played.
Ratliffe said the 29-year-old Hollis-Jefferson reached out to him when he learned that he will be playing for Magnolia for the Commissioner’s Cup, with the Hotshots import saying that it will be a tough match-up when they play against each other.
“He actually called me, talked some trash, told him I’m back in the PBA, I’m going to elbow him, set hard screens on him. And if I catch him at the post, it’s going to be a hard time for him,” said the 35-year-old Ratliffe with a smile.
The two imports are actually in need wins when they face each other on Wednesday.
Ratliffe’s Hotshots are on a slump, losing the last two games including a 107-103 loss to NorthPort last Friday to go down to 1-2. Hollis-Jefferson’s Tropang Giga have not even registered a win, dropping their first two including a 100-95 defeat against NorthPort last Sunday.
Ratliffe is currently averaging 21.7 points and 16.7 rebounds for Magnolia, although he is coming off a 10-point, 4-for-12 shooting performance against NorthPort.
Hollis-Jefferson’s numbers also dipped recently after making 19 points and shooting 5-for-19 from the field although he is averaging 26 points and 10.5 rebounds through two games with TNT.
Ratliffe has good words to say about Hollis-Jefferson, but said he believes in his teammates when they go up against each other.
“He is a great player,” said Ratliffe of Hollis-Jefferson. “He plays Kobe-style basketball. He’s got the mentality, really athletic, fast, shoot, versatile. I enjoy watching him play.
“But against us, I’m betting on us,” said Ratliffe.
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