WATCHING Rondae Hollis-Jefferson chase victory at any expense, Rylanda Hollis, his mother, is reminded of his childhood.
It was only the third time she had seen him play live in the PBA since he moved across the globe to play for TNT in 2023.
During Wednesday night’s crucial win, Rondae had an unfortunate incident, hitting the LED lights on the side of the court early in the second quarter, which caused a portion of the board lights to turn off.
READ: TNT forces winner-take-all Game 7 after surviving Ginebra rally
After hitting the floor, Rondae quickly got back up and returned to the court, despite clearly still being in pain.
Though the impact wasn’t serious, it was a testament to Hollis-Jefferson’s grit.
For Rylanda, a single mother, it was a familiar sight.
She had always known that Rondae had the strength to fight through anything, especially as he grew up in a crime-ridden neighborhood in Chester, Pennsylvania,
Rylanda considers herself fortunate to have raised two good sons in Rondae and his older brother, Rahlir. Amidst the many temptations and vices around them, the two brothers chose to pursue sports.
READ: Rondae Hollis-Jefferson on brother Rahlir: 'He can't guard me'
Rylanda shared that Rondae was even a good student during his academic years.
“Rondae’s always had the same energy since he was a teenager, even as a child. He likes to win at all times and at all costs,” she told SPIN Life.
She recalls Rondae first picking up a basketball at the age of five. Basketball was actually his second sport, as he and Rahlir first played football. Rahlir got into basketball first, and it wasn’t long before Rondae followed suit.
“Rahlir played first, so Rondae wanted to try it too. He took the ball and never let go of it,” she said.
Growing up, Rylanda always knew Rondae had the heart of a lion when it came to basketball—sometimes, maybe a little too much.
“The problem was, Rondae was always so driven and determined. He’s a little too hard on himself,” she shared.
Wanting to support her son, Rylanda traveled from the U.S. to the Philippines to cheer him on, only to realize that he was still that same little boy she had watched grow up.
As she saw his impact on the game, the mother of the three-time PBA Best Import admitted she had always known he would commit himself to the sport.
“I knew he’d play at that level. I always knew there was something special in him to make that kind of impact,” she said.
Hearing comparisons to Kobe Bryant, Rylanda is proud that Rondae is getting the recognition he deserves as a good-natured player.
“It’s flattering to hear that, but Kobe Bryant is Kobe Bryant, and Rondae is Rondae. He has a good heart and is very generous. Rahlir, too. My relationship with my two boys is very strong—we’re all very close.”
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