Rahlir Hollis-Jefferson has been a steady, versatile presence since stepping in for Darius Days as the TNT Tropang 5G’s import in the 2026 PBA Governors’ Cup.

The 35-year-old forward is averaging 20.3 points, 11.7 rebounds, 4.7 assists, and 2.7 steals through his first three games, helping improve TNT’s record to 4-3 this conference, good for third place in Group A behind the NLEX Road Warriors and San Miguel.

While he has struggled with his shot so far, hitting just 34.3 percent from the field and 18.2 percent from three-point range, he has more than made up for it everywhere else, particularly on the defensive end with his motor and his willingness to do the dirty work despite being an import.

TNT has gone 2-1 with him in the lineup, and his fingerprints have been all over those wins. In victories over the San Miguel Beermen and the Titan Ultra Giant Risers, Hollis-Jefferson posted a +/- of plus-18 and plus-26, respectively, with his best performance coming in their most recent win, a blowout over Titan Ultra.

Against the Giant Risers, he had his best all-around performance yet: 19 points on 8-of-22 shooting, 12 rebounds, two assists, and two steals in 38 minutes as TNT dominated from the opening tip. The Tropang 5G cruised to a 114-80 win behind a balanced attack that saw four other players score in double figures, including Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser’s 19 points on 8-of-11 shooting.

What has helped Hollis-Jefferson is that he is no stranger to this TNT team. This is his second stint with the club already, having suited up for TNT in the 2023-24 Commissioner’s Cup as a fill-in after his brother, TNT’s resident import Rondae, went down with an injury. TNT struggled in that conference, though, finishing eighth in the eliminations before bowing out in the quarterfinals.

Rondae is expected to return to the Tropang 5G by October after the three-time Best Import ruptured his Achilles tendon in December while playing for the Meralco Bolts in the East Asia Super League, an injury that forced him to sit out TNT’s entire Commissioner’s Cup campaign. Seven months later, he has already hinted that his on-court return is imminent, though it would not come as a surprise if TNT does not rush him back.

Though Rahlir doesn’t have the NBA résumé that his brother does, he has still carved out an impressive career of his own, playing in the NBA G League and in countries such as Luxembourg, Canada, Finland, and Taiwan. He deserves to be known for his own achievements, not just as Rondae’s older brother, and with his brother still working his way back, this is his chance to keep building a name for himself in Philippine basketball lore.