RHJ gives credit where credit is due.
Rondae Hollis-Jefferson is embracing the leadership role on the court, and he has learned to do so thanks to a shot of faith he got from the TNT Tropang Giga.
In his best season in the NBA back in the 2017-18 season, the University of Arizona product averaged 13.9 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 2.5 assists for the Brooklyn Nets.
After stints in Turkey, Puerto Rico, and South Korea, he got his groove with the Tropang Giga. RHJ averaged 30.4 points, 13.3 rebounds, 6.6 assists, and 2.1 steals in 16 games to become the PBA Governors' Cup Best Import in his first stint. And it led to TNT's first ever championship in the season-ending conference.
"I was a role player once before," he told the media after the celebration. "I now know how to lead the team. Just showing people I can do whatever I need to do."
It wasn't easy, as Hollis-Jefferson answered what was the hardest thing to do in the finals series against then-defending champions Barangay Ginebra San Miguel.
"The hardest thing? To be honest, guarding Justin [Brownlee]," the TNT import admitted.
"He's a hell of an opponent to go up against. Very skilled, knows how to get to his spots."
This is not a lip service. RHJ reiterated withstanding the efforts of the three-time Best Import in Game 6, after Brownlee was forced out in the second half of Game 5 due to food poisoning.
"Give credit to Justin. After he came under the weather, he came out aggressive," Hollis-Jefferson noted. "We had to lock in a little bit more and make his shots a little bit harder, try to wear him down."
And it worked, as Brownlee absorbed his first defeat in the PBA Finals.
The 28-year-old Hollis-Jefferson also learned a valuable lesson playing with a champion-caliber team such as TNT.
"The guys staying poised and staying focused was big for us," he told PBA courtside reporter Denise Tan after the match.
"Things could've went bad for us, we stayed relaxed, we stayed calm. We did what we do best."
That composure remained despite TNT suffering multiple setbacks with the injury bug biting Justin Chua, Kelly Williams, and RR Pogoy.
"We wanna win at the end of the day, comes down to willpower," the import said. "It's time to kick in to overdrive, lock in, and don't look back."
Coach Jojo Lastimosa had nothing but praise for the hardy import.
"Grabe si Rondae, he would not lose that game. Kahit maputulan siya ng paa, he would not lose that game," the coach acknowledged in the post-game press conference.
It's a stunning ending for an import who flew to the Philippines without a contract, banking on his agent, the words of former PBA import Ricardo Ratliffe, and took a trip to Boracay.
"I just put my faith in," he said. "Worked out for the best."
Will Filipinos see RHJ play once again in the PBA?
The former Brooklyn Net says he wants another shot at the NBA.
"We'll see how that all unfolds."
(With reports from Denise Tan, Diobelle Lao)