AT least one Hollis-Jefferson was calm and collected on Friday.
On a night when Rondae Hollis-Jefferson was involved in a commotion with Rain or Shine, his older brother, Rahlir, proved steady for TNT and emerged as the brightest spot in the team’s 119-112 loss to the Elasto Painters in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup.
The elder Hollis-Jefferson showed he’s the right replacement import for his NBA veteran brother, putting up a debut to remember with 50 points that sadly went for naught after the defeat.
Rahlir was a cooler head that tried to talk some sense into his younger brother Rondae, whose complaining to the officials led him to the Rain or Shine bench late in the game and caused a stir.
“At the end of the game, I just told him to calm down,” Rahlir said. “We’re good. We just got to keep moving.”
Still, the elder RHJ appreciated Rondae for sticking up for him over what the latter felt was a wrong call on his brother.
“It’s my brother. That’s what we’re going to do. We’re going to stand by each other no matter what,” Rahlir said.
Amid the altercation and loss, Rahlir was the sliver lining as he flaunted his midrange game to make 21 of his 44 shots from the field alongside hitting all but one of his eight free-throw attempts to get his 50-piece.
The 32-year-old Hollis-Jefferson completed his offensive onslaught with 16 rebounds, four assists, two steals, and one block, against only one turnover in over 44 minutes of play.
“My mindset was just going to the game and try to do whatever I could to help the team win. Unfortunately, we fell short,” Rahlir said.
“I did what I could. Maybe next time, I got to do a little bit more,” he added.
Rahlir has to. After dropping to 4-6, the Tropang Giga still need to win their last game against Phoenix on Jan. 14 to assure themselves of at least a playoff for the last quarterfinal spot.
“We’re just going to our next practice preparing for our next game and just try to change the outcome of tonight for that game, so try to get that win and hopefully we get that playoff berth.”
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