RONDAE Hollis-Jefferson left the country on Sunday heaving a sigh of relief.
What was initially suspected as a groin injury turned out to be an abdominal contusion for the three-time Best Import winner who carried TNT to the PBA Commissioner’s Cup championship past Barangay Ginebra over the weekend.
READ: RHJ reveals groin injury from Game 6 dive into LED board
Team manager Jojo Lastimosa bared the injury was determined after the 29-year-old former NBA player underwent medical test the day after the drama-filled 87-83 Tropang Giga win in Game 7 of the title series at the jampacked Araneta Coliseum.
“Rondae is fine. It’s an abdominal contusion,” said Lastimosa when asked about the health condition of the team’s resident import.
“He wasn’t confined (in the hospital), but had ultrasound the next day (Saturday).”
Without making it public, Hollis-Jefferson was walking wounded during the finals, initially dealing with an aching hamstring he suffered during the semifinals series against Rain or Shine.
But he aggravated his situation after banging hard on the LED board while chasing a loose ball early in the first half of Game 6.
By late in regulation of Game 7, Hollis-Jefferson aggravated the injuries after an awkward landing following a layup, hindering his movement and scoring ability in the overtime period.
When everything was over, the import could hardly stand on his own and had to be aided while walking.
“I’m banged up,” Hollis-Jefferson admitted while opting to rest while the rest of the Tropang Giga celebrate in the din of the latest championship that they’ve won.
“Honestly, I’m no doctor. I can’t tell you what’s going on exactly. My abdomen was locking, at the same time, my groin was locking. So I couldn’t really move my leg. So I needed to sit down.”
Hollis-Jefferson still managed to join the team during its victory party after Game 7, but no longer showed up during Sunday’s Meet and Greet event at the Gateway Mall 2 as he already had a scheduled flight back to the US where he returned together with his mother Rylanda.
“He already left last night to the US,” Lastimosa said, adding the do-it-all import will be back in the country at the latter part of the season-ending Philippine Cup, which TNT is eyeing to win to complete a rare grand slam.
“He will be back around June this year to do camps around the country and help the team in whatever way,” said Lastimosa.
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