RONDAE Hollis-Jefferson and the entire TNT Tropang Giga team achieved another historic Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) title by defeating the Brgy. Ginebra San Miguel 95-85 in Game 6 of the Finals. 

The former NBA player continues to establish his place in Filipino basketball history, winning his second title with the Tropang Giga squad, edging Ginebra rival Justin Brownlee. 

Hollis-Jefferson, dubbed the Conference’s Best Import, came out strong in the fourth quarter, ensuring that the crowd-favorite opponent would be unable to mount a series comeback.

The RHJ repeat

With 4:57 remaining in the game clock and the Gin Kings leading 85-83 thanks to a Brownlee jumper, the Tropang Giga went on a 12-0 run, turning the complexion of the game once and for all. 

Hollis-Jefferson hammered back-to-back baskets to give TNT an 89-85 lead, which they maintained until the final buzzer by halting Ginebra one possession after the next as desperation set in to force a Game 7. 

Jayson Castro set up Kelly Williams for a layup with 1:20 left for a 91-85 lead, then RR Pogoy hit a dagger three with 53 seconds left, canceling out Ginebra’s Game Six heroics from PBA rookie RJ Abarrientos.

This was TNT’s 10th PBA title overall, and Chot Reyes’ tenth as well, despite failing to win one the previous season. Nonetheless, the tactician offered credit to Ginebra’s head coach Tim Cone.

“I would like to give credit to coach Tim and the entire Ginebra team. It’s a hell of a series, especially this last game, Game 6,” said coach Reyes during the postgame press conference live on Facebook.

TNT also had to survive the 31-point output of Abarrientos, “We couldn’t stop Abarrientos. He scored 30 plus points on us, fortunately we were able to get back to our DNA in the fourth quarter,” said Reyes.

Hollis-Jefferson finished the game with 31 points and 16 rebounds, while Castro and Pogoy had 13 points each. Castro was ultimately selected the Finals MVP for this series.

Kryptonite of Brownlee

Brownlee was limited to 16 points, six rebounds, and four assists in a game that was critical to their franchise and his own accomplishment. It was a respectable performance, but not enough to carry Ginebra. 

Hollis-Jefferson, on the other hand, delivered an incredible performance. Furthermore, the TNT import was able to add stain to Brownlee’s once clean PBA Finals record, sending him two losses out of a 6-2 record. 

Brownlee might have discovered his kryptonite in Hollis-Jefferson. If Ginebra had been able to force a Game 7 and won it all, it may have been historic for Brownlee, breaking the title tie between him and Sean Chambers.

PBA fans are now wondering if Hollis-Jefferson has finally put an end to Brownlee’s unstoppable run in the PBA, or if the latter simply had an insufficient performance night in a vital game.