There’s arguably no better partnership in the PBA today than that of Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and the TNT Tropang Giga.
The 29-year-old Hollis-Jefferson is an all-around offensive player and one of the best imports to have graced the league in recent years. The Tropang Giga won the championship in his first conference with the team, last year’s Governor’s Cup, and they are now back in the finals in this year’s edition.
What makes the 6’6 forward special is that he can generate his own shot, shoot from beyond the arc(s), and create scoring opportunities for his teammates. This elite skill set makes him the perfect import for a TNT team that does not have a legitimate go-to guy as presently constructed.
Yes, the Tropang Giga do have a pair of Gilas Pilipinas veterans in RR Pogoy and Calvin Oftana, together with a handful of reliable veterans, but they are great basketball players rather than the type of take-charge high volume scorer that every team needs. TNT indeed struggled in the 2024 PBA Philippine Cup earlier this year–their first conference without Hollis-Jefferson since he joined the team in 2023–where they fell to the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters in the quarterfinals.
With Hollis-Jefferson back onboard for this year’s Governor’s Cup, the Tropang Giga were able to exact revenge on the Elasto Painters, eliminating them from the best-of-seven semifinals in five games. Hollis-Jefferson was unsurprisingly stellar in the closeout game where TNT blew out Rain or Shine, 113-95.
Hollis-Jefferson led the Tropang Giga with 36 points on 14-of-23 shooting, two three-pointers, six-of-six free throws, 10 rebounds, nine assists, six steals, and a block in 37 minutes. The only thing missing from his almost-complete statline for the evening was the league’s signature four-pointer. The reigning PBA Governor’s Cup Best Import of the Conference vastly outplayed his Rain or Shine counterpart, Aaron Fuller, who tallied 14 points, six rebounds, and six turnovers.
Pogoy and Oftana were yet again brilliant in their roles as two-way players, with the former making all three of his three-point attempts to finish with 19 points, two rebounds, two assists, and two steals. Oftana chipped in 10 points, including a pair of threes, while adding nine rebounds and three assists over 33 minutes—the most among the local Tropang Giga players.
TNT also drew strength from the contributions of Kim Aurin, Rey Nambatac, Glenn Khobuntin, Poy Erram, and even 42-year-old veteran Kelly Williams, who made his presence felt in the series-clinching win.
The way that this Tropang Giga team is structured, though far from ideal for contending in the Philippine Cup, is perfect to support a player of Hollis-Jefferson’s talents. Pogoy, Oftana, and Aurin are versatile wingmen who can shoot from the outside and defend multiple positions on defense. Nambatac and Brian Heruela may not possess the star power of former guards like Jayson Castro and Jimmy Alapag, but their tough defense and reliable playmaking offer precisely what the team needs. On the inside, Khobuntin, Erram, Williams, and Henry Galinato ensure that this team will never be short on toughness and on the receiving end of any form of bullying.
With Hollis-Jefferson leading the way, the Tropang Giga appear poised to defend their Governor’s Cup crown. They now await the outcome of the other semifinal series, where Barangay Ginebra San Miguel holds a 3-2 lead over the San Miguel Beermen. Both teams possess the depth and talent to challenge TNT, making the upcoming finals a must-watch event regardless of who advances
Over the past year, Hollis-Jefferson has shown a knack for elevating his game under the brightest lights, and the upcoming Governor’s Cup finals promise to be no different—much to the chagrin of whoever they face.
