Sta. Rosa, Laguna – TNT leaned on the exploits of brothers Rondae and Rahlir Hollis-Jefferson to finally make it to the win column of the EASL Home and Away season.
The Hollis-Jeffersons combined for 57 points and carried the Tropang Giga on their broad shoulders past the Taipei Fubon Braves, 80-69, Wednesday night at the Sta. Rosa Sports Complex.
Rondae Hollis-Jefferson went for 35 points, 11 rebounds, and five assists, while the debuting Rahlir supported his younger brother with 22 points and nine rebounds in their first ever game playing together.
Their exploits allowed TNT to finally score a win after losing its first four games this season.
It also marked the team’s first victory in the EASL since the 2019 Terrific 12 tournament.
Although TNT is still a long way to have a clear passage to the semifinals as it remains in the bottom of Group A at 1-4, deputy coach Josh Reyes said the Tropang Giga will still try to make it two in a row as they face Anyang Jung Kwan Jang Red Boosters for their final opponent.
“We’ll go for it. We’ll just continue with this momentum and like I said, keep on getting better, and hopefully good results will follow,” said Reyes, who called the shots for TNT.
A spoiler to the win though, was the injury Rondae Hollis-Jefferson suffered late in the game. The former NBA player tripped while driving to the basket, crashing head-first into Taipei’s Chan Fan Po-Yen and laid motionless to the hardwood for a few minutes.
He was later brought to the nearby hospital to check on his neck and spine.
“We’re very concerned as a unit right now. Good that we got the win, but right now the concern is Rondae and his well-being,” Reyes added.
Taipei fell to a 1-3 record despite getting 19 points and 20 rebounds from import Anthony Johnson and 15 points from Fil-Am Sedric Barefield, who had members of his family and other relatives watching from courtside.
The 17 turnovers committed by the visiting team hurt the P.League+ side, which TNT translated by outscoring the opposition in turnover points, 13-2.
The Tropang Giga only had 10 turnovers.