CALVIN Oftana and Rondae Hollis-Jefferson will no longer be connected by just their birthdays.
Oftana and Hollis-Jefferson became the first local-import teammates in 33 years to score 40 or more points in one game in TNT’s 103-100 win over Magnolia on Wednesday in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup.
Oftana dropped a career-best 42 points in sizzling performance from beyond the arc, while 'RHJ' chipped in 41 points in an amazing display of scoring from the Tropang Giga's prolific one-two punch.
READ: TNT finally breaks duck, deals Magnolia a third straight loss
Terrance Bailey and Allan Caidic were the last import and local teammate to do such feat when Bailey had 45 and Caidic had 43 in Presto Tivoli’s 147-136 win over San Miguel last September 29, 1991, according to PBA statistics chief Fidel Mangonon.
Hollis-Jefferson is amazed with Oftana’s feat where he also drained 9-for-14 shooting from threes.
“Calvin had an amazing game. 9-for-14 from three, 50 percent from the field. Amazing. I’m always happy to see Calvin play well, and see the smile in his face,” said Hollis-Jefferson.
“We actually have the same birthday (January 3),” said Holls-Jefferson. “It’s an amazing feeling.”
Outside of the duo’s achievement, however, Hollis-Jefferson said they still need to improve as a team even after TNT finally claimed its first victory of the Commissioner’s Cup after losing its first two matches.
“I’m happy we got the win but Chot said in the (press) conference that the way we finished was unacceptable. I take a lot of blame for that. I hold myself accountable for not finishing the game the right way,” said ‘RHJ.’
“That’s leadership at the end of the day and I lacked that in that moment. You kinda want to see some class when the game is going to end. And I apologize and I take responsibility,” said Hollis-Jefferson.
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