IS there something bothering Rondae Hollis-Jefferson?
Apparently, there is.
SPIN.ph learned from a reliable source that Hollis-Jefferson, who just won a third Best Import award, is nursing a pulled hamstring that dates back to the semifinals series against Rain or Shine.
Although the injury is not as serious as the dislocated thumb of Barangay Ginebra counterpart Justin Brownlee, it’s obviously hampering the movement of the TNT import for most of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals.
COLUMN: TNT self-destructing and Chot's running out of answers
Of course, the Tropang Giga wouldn’t want to make it as an excuse lest they be labelled as sore losers.
But it’s becoming obvious there’s something wrong with Hollis-Jefferson as the title series progresses, especially after a 73-66 loss in Game 5 where the prolific import struggled to hit shots he routinely makes.
“Rain or Shine series pa lang may strained hamstring na siya. Hindi lang namin pinagsasabi,” said the source.
TNT is not taking anything away from the defensive work Ginebra Fil-Ams Stephen Holt and Jamie Malonzo have been doing against the former NBA player, who was held to just 19 points on Sunday night on 26 percent shooting from the field (7-of-26).
In Game 4, Hollis-Jefferson was held to his lowest output of 14 points while just making 27 percent of his shots.
He missed open looks and couldn’t make the shots he normally makes as he’s been held to a measly 12-of-44 shooting in the last two games of the series.
“He’s far from a hundred percent. May mga tira siya na normally nasu-shoot niya, he misses them. Kaya hindi kami maka-score,” added the source.
Coach Chot Reyes was mum about it, but said TNT will have to make its plays if it is to win Game 6 and send the series to a winner-take-all showdown.
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