In just three seasons, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson can make his case as one of the PBA's greatest imports after his third title with the TNT Tropang Giga.
Since arriving in the PBA in 2023, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson has been nothing short of a game-changer for the TNT Tropang Giga.
In just three seasons, the former NBA forward has rewritten the franchise’s history, delivering three championships and three Best Import awards—all while battling through adversity to cement himself as one of the best two-way imports the league has ever seen.
Hollis-Jefferson’s latest triumph came in the PBA Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup Finals, where he led TNT past Barangay Ginebra in seven grueling games despite dealing with a hamstring injury and an abdominal strain.
Averaging 23.7 points, 12.6 rebounds, 4.9 assists, and 1.4 steals in the series, RHJ once again proved why he is the heart and soul of the Tropang Giga’s recent championship machine.
For all his talent, evidenced by his productive NBA stint with over 300 games, Hollis-Jefferson’s greatness isn’t just about numbers.
According to TNT head coach Chot Reyes, it’s Rondae's "coachability" and commitment to his teammates that make him truly special.
“I'm not even going to go into his technical skills or basketball talent or athletic ability, but the number one with Rondae is his coachability. He's very coachable and his commitment to his teammates, napaka-laking bagay nun. He really loves playing with his teammates and that's very hard to find at this level,” Reyes told One Sports.
[ALSO READ: Chot lauds injured RHJ's warrior spirit, mentality: 'It rubs off on his teammates']
Teammates echo the same sentiment.
Rey Nambatac, who took home the Final MVP award in TNT’s Commissioner's Cup title run, described RHJ’s impact on the team’s confidence and performance.
“Super special eh. Iba, iba 'yung import na 'yun. Talagang lalabas din 'yung laro mo pag siya kakampi mo na import sa team eh. Credit din kay RHJ kasi kung hindi dahil sa kanya, wala kami dito eh. Talagang sa kanya lahat nagsisimula---'yung aggressiveness, 'yung offense and defense,” Nambatac explained.
Even star forward Calvin Oftana, who initially found Hollis-Jefferson intimidating given his NBA pedigree, came to admire his leadership.
'Yung una nag-aalangan ka pa eh kasi hindi siya approachable siyempre NBA calliber na player and madami nang experience, so mahirap i-approach. Pero when time comes na nasa samin na siya palagi, naging [close] na siya sa Talk N Text. Napaka-bait na tao, [and] 'yung dedicated siya sa trabaho niya and makikita niyo naman nagpapakamatay talaga para samin,” said Oftana.
Through every challenge presented by three title runs, Hollis-Jefferson has been the glue that held TNT together.
After their backs were against the wall in these recent Finals, RHJ was at the center of their team talk, emphasizing the importance of their brotherhood and connectivity over pure talent.
“I'm proud of these guys, man. To be punched how we were punched with those tough games, we were kind of out of it. Our heads were somewhere else and we decided to eat together as a team,” Hollis-Jefferson bared.
“We made a circle and we talked about what it is we were feeling, what it is we were thinking, and I know this game of basketball is something we all wanna win at but these guys, I consider them brothers.”
While TNT may not boast the most star-studded roster in the PBA, Hollis-Jefferson recognized the unique bond and resilience that set them apart.
“Our number one thing over every team is our connectivity. We may not have the most talented players but you see we know how to enjoy the game and we know how to feed off one another,” said Hollis-Jefferson.
“In those games that we lost, I feel like we lost our connectivity and that's what Chot preached to us. That's what the talk was about, that's what rallied us—the belief and the connectivity in your brother to make those shots.”
[ALSO READ: Sobrang Bisaya: TNT players speak on how sharing same language helps on-court chemistry]
Hollis-Jefferson’s PBA career is still young relative to the league's other greats. He is also still just 30 years old, giving him more than enough time to add to his three championships and three Best Import trophies.
With TNT aiming for more titles, RHJ’s legacy is far from complete.
But one thing is already certain—when the conversation turns to the best imports in PBA history, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson’s name belongs at the top of the list.