TNT is not worried that the upcoming Ramadan might affect the performance of Rondae Hollis-Jefferson during the playoff run of the Tropang GIGA in the PBA Governors’ Cup.
Being a Muslim, Hollis-Jefferson will be fasting starting on March 22 when Ramadan starts. TNT coach Jojo Lastimosa said he doesn’t see it as having an effect to the team who could be in a deep run in the playoffs this conference.
READ: TNT calls PBA attention to too many bad calls
“He knows his body more than me. He has been practicing that since he was 14 years old,” said Lastimosa. “He was in the NBA for a long time. Alam niya kung paano i-manage ‘yung katawan niya and how he would play with water as intake during sun up. Kasi sabi niya, sun down lang siya puwedeng kumain tapos once a day lang.”
“It’s tough but I’ve seen a lot of NBA players, for example, si Hakeem (Olajuwon) who is observing Ramadan back in his heyday. I think he is fine,” said Lastimosa.
The TNT import said he also doesn’t see any problem with fasting, more so since he has been consistently watching his diet over the years.
“Ramadan starts on the 22nd. So that’s when I start fasting. But I intermittently fast all the time. Just part of my nature. We don’t need as much food as people should think we do as long as you are getting the right source of vitamins, electrolytes, and things like that,” said Hollis-Jefferson.
“As a society, we get caught up on, 'We need to have breakfast, lunch, dinner.' But that’s not the case. I’ll be good. I’ve done it for a while,” said the 28-year-old Hollis-Jefferson.
With Hollis-Jefferson in the lineup, TNT is one win away from capturing the No. 1 seed in the quarterfinals, which it can clinch with a victory over Barangay Ginebra on Friday.
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.
