After putting the lone blemish on Justin Brownlee's 6-1 PBA finals record, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson has a chance to cement his name as the one the best imports in the Governors' Cup by getting another series win over the legendary import
TNT Tropang Giga has had an impressive conference so far, finishing the elimination round with the best record in both groups at 8-2. They breezed through the playoffs, defeating NLEX Road Warriors in the quarterfinals and Rain or Shine Elasto Painters in the semifinals -- dropping just one game in each series.
And behind TNT's success has been the constant presence of Hollis-Jefferson.
What's truly remarkable is how Hollis-Jefferson has led the team in various ways.
When the offense stagnates and a basket is needed, he steps up to deliver. If the team requires a crucial stop or needs to contain the opposing team's best player, he eagerly accepts the challenge.
Moreover, when called upon to facilitate the offense, he demonstrates a willingness to pass and trusts his teammates to make plays. Simply put, Hollis-Jefferson is an import that can be depended on at all times.
The counting stats of Hollis-Jefferson totally highlights his do it all approach with TNT, averaging 27.3 points, 12.8 rebounds, 6.2 assists, and 4.3 stocks on 51.7 true shooting percentage (TS%). But in reality, even though he's producing these numbers, scoring has come hard for him and the whole team.
In 19 games they have played in this conference, TNT has only shot 32.1% from rainbow country. Hence, defenses have been able to load up against Hollis-Jefferson when he's attacking the basket -- which could either be a concern or be a way to marvel at how he's still able to deliver even without having consistent shooting around him.
From checking specific details of Hollis-Jefferson's shot profile from the data provided by InStat, his inside the arc scoring hasn't been that efficient for his standards. In terms of drives, the reigning Best Import has only converted 36.9% in the playoffs.
However, thanks to his relentless pursuit in offensive glass, Hollis-Jefferson is able to turn those misses into putbacks, where he scores at 1.05 points per possession (PPP).
But Hollis-Jefferson knows that for TNT's offense to hum, they will need to work as a unit and not by himself. For context, from his 90 made field goals, only 33 of them were assisted, and for them to beat Ginebra, it will need to amp up.
"It should always be a team effort. We go first side [then the] second side and I set a step up [screen]. We can also go pick-and-roll and hit me in the pocket for a layup or a drive. That's what we've been working on all through the conference," Hollis-Jefferson mentioned on how he can get going on the offensive end.
To provide more context on Hollis-Jefferson's non-self-created shots, he has made 38.9% of his attempts in catch-and-shoot situations, according to InStat. Looking at TNT's overall performance, out of the 56 catch-and-shoot shots made, Hollis-Jefferson assisted on 35.7% of them (20 out of 56).
Meanwhile, Hollis-Jefferson's defensive contributions are unquestionable. Just as it was notable during his time in the NBA, his defense was arguably the key factor in securing the most recent championship against Ginebra. Hollis-Jefferson's ability to guard multiple positions and disrupt the opposing team's offense made a significant difference for TNT.
It could be said to be true in this conference as well, with TNT having the best defensive rating in the league at 81.1 points per 100 possessions, according to InStat. As previously noted, the length of their wings alongside him can be bothersome to Ginebra's offense.
Examining how Hollis-Jefferson defends in key play types -- those that make up at least 10% of his guarded possessions -- highlights his elite defensive skills. Some critical aspects for TNT against Ginebra is his ability to close out on shooters and potentially guard Brownlee, whether at the post or in isolation. According to InStat, Hollis-Jefferson has allowed just 0.45 PPP on catch-and-shoots, and 0.64 and 0.27 PPP in post-ups and isolations, respectively.
One thing is for sure though, Hollis-Jefferson is ready to exert 100% effort to get another Governors' Cup championship. He knows that defeating Ginebra won't come easy, as Hollis-Jefferson has repeatedly emphasized, winning takes more than just talent specifically against a well-coached team -- and he's ready to lead by example.
"They know what we're going to do and we know what they're going to do," he added. "At the end of the day, beyond the Xs and Os, I'm just going to play hard.
"If we want to be champions, we really have to lock in."
The stage is set for a highly anticipated rematch of two powerhouses and all eyes will be on the imports on both sides - and whether Hollis-Jefferson can enhance his reputation further by inflicting yet another rare finals defeat on Ginebra icon Brownlee.