STEPHEN Holt has started to make a positive impact in the PBA 49th Season Governors’ Cup Finals mainly because he is feeling a lot better physically.
Barangay Ginebra coach Tim Cone revealed that Holt played through an illness during the first two games of the finals which affected his overall play against TNT, where his main task is to guard Rondae Hollis-Jefferson.
The statistics didn’t really show that Holt was in sick bay as he still posted respectable numbers of 11 points, 6.3 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 1.7 steals entering Game Four, the contest where he finally had a breakout game in the finals.
READ: Chot rues Holt, Ahanmisi a thorn on side of TNT in Game Four
Holt had 18 points, three rebounds, and two assists on Sunday. But the highlight for Holt was his five steals, matching his total in that statistical category in the first three games of the finals, to provide Barangay Ginebra a big lift in a 106-92 win over TNT.
“He was really sick in Game One and Two,” Cone said. “And he battled through it, continued to play through that sickness.”
“He is feeling better and his game is getting better,” Cone said.
After shooting a combined 9-for-29 from the field (31 percent) in the first three games, Holt’s shots fell in Game Four, shooting 6-for-15 (40 percent) including four three pointers that enabled Barangay Ginebra to pull away. His last three at the 1:28-mark of the fourth made it a 104-92 lead for the Gin Kings.
Holt said that while his focus remains ON Hollis-Jefferson on the defensive effort, he made a conscious effort to be more aggressive on offense for Game Four especially since he felt he was hesitating on taking attempts in the past three games.
“That’s just been the biggest challenge for me in this series. Obviously, it takes a lot of energy on the defensive end mentally and physically just to lock in on that match-up individually one-on-one defense, but also within the team scheme. That’s kinda taken away a little bit of my aggressiveness offensively,” said Holt.
“The first three games, I was passive from open shots that I know I needed to shoot. Today, I don’t want to pass any of those shots. I was able to make some big time shots. My teammates found me when I needed to. I do my job and was able to be more aggressive and put more points in the game,” said Holt.
When told about his five steals, Holt said it was only a result of his focus on defense.
“Honestly, I just try to get deflections within the team concept. Again, it’s the things that I can rely myself on when the things are going good or bad for me on the defensive end, the energy I bring. I know it’s a tough task every single possession. I have to be locked in,” said Holt.
“I have to remind myself that I can’t get discouraged when [Hollis-Jefferson] makes a bucket on me. Three-point shot, tough drive, I can’t be discouraged,” he added.
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