RONDAE Hollis-Jefferson was left puzzled over the technical foul whistled against him following a collision with guard Mike Ayonayon late in TNT’s 105-96 win over Blackwater in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup Friday night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
While the TNT import doesn’t deny there was contact in the play that occurred at the final 3:53 mark which had Hollis-Jefferson bumping knees with Ayonayon, he felt there was no reason to call a technical in the play.
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But game officials saw it otherwise, resulting in a technical free throw and two more foul shots as the Tropang Giga were already in penalty.
Last year’s Governors’ Cup Best Import made his thoughts known about the technical foul during the post-game presser.
“I don’t know where that came from because nothing I did was intentional. I don’t think I even stepped on him if you look at the play,” said Hollis-Jefferson.
Ayonayon missed the technical free throw and then made the next two that cut the TNT lead to 101-89, although not enough to affect the outcome of the match.
The 28-year-old Hollis-Jefferson finished with a near triple-double of 42 points, 12 rebounds, and eight assists. He had 13 points in the third quarter when the Tropang Giga turned things around and took control of the game for good.
It was the second straight win for TNT to climb above the .500 mark at 4-3.
Only that late technical foul called on him proved to be the spoiler for what had been another great night for Hollis-Jefferson.
“So I don’t know who made that call back there to say it was a technical. I do not agree with it at all. So thank you,” said the former NBA player.
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