DEFENSE is the main focus of Stephen Holt early in the PBA 49th Season Governors’ Cup but he certainly welcomes the scoring output he produced on Tuesday in Barangay Ginebra’s game over NLEX.
Holt had 26 points, his best effort in a Ginebra uniform, and 11 rebounds in the Kings’ 119-91 win over the Road Warriors, after last season’s Rookie of the Year averaged just five points in the last two games.
The 32-year-old Holt said he has been making a concerted effort on defense, which explains a dip in scoring in the first three games.
“I thought those first three games, my main focus was defensively, doing the little things,” said Holt.
“Coming in this game, I had to step up offensively. Obviously, we take the pressure off Justin and some of our other players. I was able to have success tonight offensively. Hopefully, I can carry that on for the rest of the conference.”
Barangay Ginebra coach Tim Cone said Holt has a big role defensively for the team especially in containing imports.
“Stephen coming in to be the stopper, he is our total stopper. And luckily, Aljon’s got real healthy so we can give him a break here and there. Stephen having to be the stopper and still be the scorer is a big adjustment for him as well because we have a lot of demands to Stephen,” said Cone.
Holt is accepting his role with open arms, something that is also not new to him as he has always tried to be a better defensive playe during his rookie year with Terrafirma. Prior to the NLEX game, Holt tallied three steals each in the last two matches.
“You can see the little things being highlighted even more,” Holt said. “I was a good defender at Terrafirma, but even with this team, I think it’s highlighted even more being able to defend the imports and a total team player. At the end of the day, I’m here to win and do whatever coach tells me to do.”
For the NLEX game, Holt said Cone wanted the entire team to play aggressive early with the Road Warriors coming off an out-of-town overtime victory over San Miguel in Cagayan De Oro.
“From the jump, coach wanted us to be aggressive on both ends of the floor, individually as players, and as a team,” said Holt. “I definitely wanted to set the tone defensively. We talked about that all the time in the locker room.”
“We know we have a tough job every night, switching off between me and JB, guarding the imports. I know it’s a total team effort and I just got to deny, make it difficult, tough shots. I just can’t discourage when the import scores. That’s their job. I just know I’ve got to make it difficult,” said Holt.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
