There’s always room for improvement for TNT import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson even as the TNT Tropang Giga enter the PBA Governors' Cup semifinals behind a 29-point win.
Having played in the NBA and around the world, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson is used to setting a high standard for himself.
So much so that his 35-point, 11-rebound outing in TNT’s 125-96 series-clinching win over NLEX still demands improvement as far as RHJ was concerned.
“I expect better of myself,” Hollis-Jefferson as the Tropang Giga advanced to the Governors’ Cup semifinals after a Game 4 shellacking of NLEX to eliminate the Road Warriors.
The reigning Best Import described his outing Tuesday as “rough,” pointing out his missed free throws and earning a technical foul for delay of game, errors that still linger on his mind despite the win.
RHJ was 10/18 from the line and had a team-leading three turnovers.
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“Today was rough. I got a technical [foul] today because of a delay of game. And I think I was just too deep in my head about the [missed] free throws," Hollis-Jefferson said.
But true to his nature, the TNT import vowed to improve, especially as TNT nears another PBA title.
“I’m setting the standard for my teammates and I just got to be a lot better.”
In the Game 4 win, Rey Nambatac emerged as the top local scorer for the Tropang Giga with 19 points. RR Pogoy added 18 markers, while Calvin Oftana, Glenn Khobuntin, and Poy Erram combined for 32 points.
TNT raced to a hot start, building a 66-46 halftime lead.
They even out-rebounded their opponents, 50-30, and won the battle of the bench with a 37-27 advantage.
Overall, RHJ gave props to his teammates for another win that sends them to the next round of the season-opening tournament.
“Today,I was just a little bit out of it but you got to give credit to my teammates, coaches. We all believed. Guys that can make shots, make plays and they played their part extremely well.”
TNT will face the winner of the Magnolia-Rain or Shine series with Game 5 of that series set on Saturday, October 5 at the Ynares Sports Center in Antipolo.