Rondae Hollis-Jefferson OK now after late fall in Finals Game 5

Rondae Hollis-Jefferson engaged in a very physical battle in Game 5 of the PBA Governors' Cup Finals. Dennis Acosta

By Ivan Saldajeno

QUEZON CITY—Rondae Hollis-Jefferson got hurt late in Game 5 of the PBA Governors' Cup Finals between TNT and Ginebra on Wednesday night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

According to Tropang Giga head coach Jojo Lastimosa, Hollis-Jefferson was feeling dizzy upon exiting the playing court after their 104-95 win.

"I think he banged his head on the floor," Lastimosa said.

However, he also thought fatigue also set in on Hollis-Jefferson during that crucial stretch.

"I think more than anything, he's tired. To me, he gave his everything tonight, and he deserved the Best Player award. He didn't want to again lose tonight," Lastimosa described Hollis-Jefferson, who walked away with Man of the Match honors with 32 points, 16 rebounds, 10 assists, two steals, and one block in all but 48 seconds of the game.

When he was returning home after the game, though, he seemed to be OK now.

"I'm good. It's just they played a lot more physically today—a lot of banging and bumping—but that's how I grew up playing. So I embraced it. I love it," Hollis-Jefferson said.

He believes the Gin Kings' strategy of defending him more tightly backfired as the Gin Kings gradually fizzled in the second half.

"[Bumping me too much] kinda took them away from their focus," Hollis-Jefferson said.

He even issued a challenge to Ginebra to continue the physical defense on him come Game 6 on Friday night.

"Keep bumping me. I love it. I'm not tripping," Hollis-Jefferson said.

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