PBA: RHJ deflects credit to TNT teammates after dominant Governors’ Cup win against NorthPort

Rondae Hollis-Jefferson is back on TNT, but with a revamped roster this time around. 

And for someone who had gone through a lot in his basketball career, RHJ knows one fact about the sport. 

“At the end of the day, you get rewarded when you dedicate yourself to the game,“ Hollis-Jefferson told reporters after the TNT Tropang Giga’s 101-95 victory against the NorthPort Batang Pier to kick off their title-defense on a high in the Season 49 PBA Governors’ Cup.

RHJ filled up the stats sheet anew, dropping a 32-10-5-4-4 statline as the Tropang Giga narrowly escaped NorthPort and Batang Pier import Taylor Johns’ near triple-double outing of 36 points, 16 rebounds and nine assists. 

[ALSO READ: With Rondae Hollis-Jefferson leading the charge, reigning champ TNT came out victorious in its first game against NorthPort in the PBA Season 49 Governors' Cup.]

But despite his big game, the 23rd overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft instead commended his teammates for a job well done despite missing key players, praising their efforts off the court. 

“It was big. Credit to those guys [for] putting in the work. They’re in the gym, getting shots up, in the weight room and dedicating themselves to the sport,” RHJ said.   

And it all starts with head coach Chot Reyes’ trust towards the whole team to contribute in as many ways as possible, according to the reigning Governors’ Cup Best Import.  

“Coach [Chot] believes in the guys. He said it before the game, “If you get an open shot, a good shot, take it even if it's early in the shot clock,” RHJ added.  

“That just shows you the trust that coach puts in his players and that goes a long way. From the first guy to the 15th guy, that goes a long way.” 

TNT aims to build off their momentum when the defending champion collides with reigning Philippine Cup champion Meralco Bolts in the main game at 7:30 p.m., Thursday, August 22 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.