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Rondae Hollis-Jefferson put up a performance to remember as the basketball world once again remembers Kobe Bryant on his fifth death anniversary. PBA Images |
MANILA--Since taking his acts overseas, especially in Jordan and the Philippines, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson has been drawing a lot of comparisons to Kobe Bryant.
While not exactly as efficient as the NBA legend especially in terms of long-range bombs and free throws, Hollis-Jefferson, himself a former NBA player, got the "Bryant-esque" raves not just because he too wears the number 24 and has some resemblances face-wise to Bryant but also because of the way he plays and his willingness to carry the fight in the clutch.
Because he is a Southpaw, Hollis-Jefferson got the tag "Lefty Kobe".
Hollis-Jefferson might have picked the right time to put up a stat line that you may not have even seen in the NBA at least for quite a while.
On Sunday night, with a lot at stake in terms of the PBA Commissioner's Cup playoff race, the do-it-all swingman put up a rare 30-20-10 in TNT's blowout win against San Miguel at the Ynares Center in Antipolo to give them a better shot at clinching a Top 2 spot at the end of the eliminations.
It also happened to be on the eve--in Philippine Time--of the anniversary of Bryant's heartbreaking passing.
Five years since that fateful helicopter crash on the outskirts of Los Angeles that cost the lives of Bryant, his daughter Gianna, and nine others to a whirlwind of emotions from basketball fans, his legacy still resonates on Hollis-Jefferson.
"We all know how I feel about Kobe, and you know how much I admire his game. Like I said during the World Cup, he was definitely with me. I watched him. I studied his game, and he was just a workhorse," Hollis-Jefferson said.
A significant bunch of his 35 points came from areas he is not really known for, going 6-of-10 from long range including a pull-up four that put the exclamation point on the Tropang Giga win and 8-of-10 from the charity stripe.
However, what Hollis-Jefferson emulated more from Bryant was his sheer determination to go for the win no matter what, somehow evident during some moments in the PBA Governors' Cup Finals where he wanted to play the full 48 minutes per game just to lead TNT to the championship.
"At the end of the day, he really cared about the game and winning, and that's what I try to do every time I get on the court: try to help my teammates be successful," Hollis-Jefferson, who also got 21 rebounds and 10 assists, further said.
Now the Tropang Giga's resident import, he has also become a leader on the team, and he too patterns how he helps envision their goals after Bryant.
"Before we even come to the game and practice, I'm trying to really be a leader, and I think that's why we were successful. It starts with coach Chot [Reyes] then he trickles it down to me. That's why we're a well-oiled team," Hollis-Jefferson further said.
The win ensured that TNT would not finish lower than sixth place while getting a huge boost in its bid to make it to the Top 2.
The team can seal the quarterfinal bonus with a win against Rain Or Shine right on the final game of the elimination round on Friday night at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig, and another display of "mamba mentality" should be expected from Hollis-Jefferson.
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