Rondae Hollis-Jefferson–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.internet
The load of lacking a chance to offer TNT the higher hand within the PBA Commissioner’s Cup finals was not misplaced on Rondae Hollis-Jefferson final Sunday night time.
The Tropang Giga import, who was the final to exit the crew’s locker room at Mall of Asia Enviornment, even took duty for the 71-70 defeat that allowed Barangay Ginebra to even the best-of-seven championship sequence to a recreation apiece.
“You realize, we performed some actually strong protection. However credit score to Ginebra, they performed wonderful protection and made it actually powerful for us,” the resident reinforcement mentioned in a candid chat with reporters.
“Very, very poor taking pictures on our behalf, however you bought to offer credit score to these guys,” he added of the Gin Kings. “They wished to win, they performed laborious, and so they acquired the job finished.”
The botched probability truly pressed even heavier for Hollis-Jefferson, who had two probabilities to place his squad up entrance inside the ultimate 32 seconds of the nip-and-tuck affair witnessed by 12,925 followers.
A bona fide scorer who can sink just about any type of shot, Hollis-Jefferson was smothered by Ginebra’s Stephen Holt, Scottie Thompson and Jamie Malonzo, who all performed relentless protection in these two sequences within the crunch.
“I’ll most likely watch the pictures 20 instances. The 2 possessions I didn’t even get a shot in? That’s on me,” mentioned the previous NBA starter who steered TNT to its final two crowns.
Loss is a loss
“[But] that’s one thing I need to get higher or develop from. I’ll watch it. I’ll watch it. I’m not afraid to see the place I tousled, or the place I made a mistake. Hopefully, Chot [Reyes] calls me out on it, however I’m good—it’s all about getting higher,” he mentioned.
Hollis-Jefferson, who completed with 25 factors and 15 rebounds within the match, wasn’t too eager on placing a constructive spin on the loss, taking the outcome for what it really was: A defeat.
“I imply, not likely. They acquired the win,” he mentioned when requested if Ginebra’s struggles and the slim margin supplied some type of comfort. “It don’t [sic] matter how they acquired it. They acquired the win.”
Hollis-Jefferson then set his sights on Recreation 3, which can be performed this Wednesday at PhilSports Enviornment. However not with out reaffirming his religion in himself and his teammates—like Roger Pogoy and Calvin Oftana—who had been additionally frosty that night time.
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“It’s all about believing in your self first, and your teammates believing in you as effectively,” he mentioned. “They acquired the win, so we have a look at it it’s even, 1-1. Again to the drafting board.” INQ
