There was more ball movement and better looks for the Tropang Giga.
TNT Tropang Giga’s decision to bring in Rondae Hollis-Jefferson to replace Jalen Hudson had not a few fans asking: why fix if it ain’t broke?
After all, the Tropang Giga were 5-1 with Hudson leading the assault in their PBA Governors’ Cup campaign.
But that all changed on Wednesday. Hollis-Jefferson looked like he was just what the doctor ordered as he steered TNT to a one-sided 138-116 win over an embattled Blackwater Bossing.
Needing someone who can facilitate more, TNT got that ball movement it badly wanted, none more evident in RR Pogoy erupting for 40 points on 7-of-13 clip from the three-point area.
In fact, it was the former Brooklyn Net who dished out the assist to the Cebuano shooter when the latter got the 40-piece late in the fourth period.
“Talagang hinahanap niya kami. Namamasa talaga siya,” said Pogoy of the Arizona product, who finished with 7 assists.
TNT coach Jojo Lastimosa couldn’t agree more.
“You can see Roger has actually more open shots that I’ve seen him in a long time. Daming libre, 'di lang si Roger, because si Rondae, he knows how to pass,” he said.
“All we gotta do is just knock it down. And these guys if you give them the opportunity and open looks they’re gonna knock it down,” the coach added.
Lastimosa, who is also the concurrent team manager, expected that from his new reinforcement. What he didn’t, however, was the offensive production as the 28-year-old Hollins-Jefferson dropped with 37 points to go with 13 rebounds and 2 blocks.
Nonetheless, this is a good sign for the Tropang Giga moving forward.
“How Rondae played today, 'yun 'yung ine-expect namin. A little bit of everything, rebounding, passing, defense, running the floor, communicating on defense, ‘yun 'yung ineexpect namin,” he said.
“Pero I don't really expect him to score that much. Because he’s not really a volume shooter like Jalen. Jalen is a talented scorer. Rondae is built different. The one good thing that’s happening with Rondae now is were moving the ball around. We’re getting better looks.”