Barangay Ginebra's Fil-American player Stephen Holt did not have to wait long before finding himself in a championship series.
A rookie last year with Terrafirma where the team picked him No. 1 overall in that year's draft, the 32-year-old one-time journeyman was traded to Ginebra in this year's offseason and, lo and behold, he'd be in the lineup when the Gin Kings battle TNT in a best-of-seven series for the Governors' Cup beginning Sunday at the Ynares Gym.
It's been a sweet journey for the player who had stints in Europe, Australia and the NBA Summer League where he suited during a few pre-season games with the Atlanta Hawks and the Cleveland Cavaliers but unfortunately failed to make the cut and eventually waived.
READ: Pals Cone, Chot face off in PBA Finals for first time in 12 years
But Holt apparently has found a real home in the PBA where he was named rookie of the year with Terrafirma and a member of the 2nd Mythical team. And now he has a chance to win his first championship since 2017 when he played in the Czech League with CEZ Nymburk.
“It’s crazy," he said in an interview with Spin.ph. "I’ve been so close in Europe to winning a championship. I’m so hungry. My last championship was in 2017. It’s been a long time.”
“(I won) like two or three (championships) but more second place than championships,” said Holt.
It's been so long that Holt said he'll work hard to achieve his dream with Ginebra whose winning culture he had come to admire.
“I’ve come in second place so many times in Europe. I kinda use that as motivation especially here and especially since the trade. I know what this culture is all about, putting the Ginebra jersey on, and what that means to the fans. Now that we are here and have this opportunity, we never know how many more times you are going to reach the finals or be in this opportunity,” said Holt.
Holt said that since he stepped foot in the PBA, he is all about winning championships. He has already proven that desire by being one of the key players in Terrafirma’s run during the 2024 Philippine Cup where the franchise reached the quarterfinals and even forced San Miguel to play a knockout game for a place in the semifinals.
“It’s a tremendous feeling. Every step of my journey so far in the PBA, I’m here to win. Whenever I can do to help the team. Obviously (Game Six), it wasn’t my best game individually. But again, my teammates, they stepped up which is why we are a really, really great team.
“We care about each other. We are all about the right things. And hopefully, we can take this next step in our journey and come out with a great performance on Game One on Sunday,” he added.
Barangay Ginebra reached the finals after defeating San Miguel in six games capped by a thrilling 102-99 win last Sunday. Holt, who had three points, two rebounds, and four assists in the closed-out game, said the road to the finals wasn’t a breeze.
“We had to build our chemistry,” said Holt. “We started really from the bottom.”
“I’m super excited for my guys. We played so hard. It’s just a tough series. Credit to San Miguel for pushing us to six games. It’s just a testament to this culture, that’s why I fit in so well. Winning or losing, we all work hard. We just wanted to reach the finals. The fact that we are finally in this position, we just have to finish the job,” Holt said.
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.
