By REYNALD MAGALLON
They may be warriors who gutted it all out against each other inside the court but TNT import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson didn’t want to see, be it a teammate or one of his fiercest foes, to go down and not finish a game due to injury or any other health reasons.
He had the same sentiments when his Barangay Ginebra counterpart Justin Brownlee had to be brought to hospital due to an apparent food poisoning during Game 5 of their best-of-seven Finals series.
“I’m not speaking on the basketball side. I just want to feel better, and as a human I wish no food poisoning of no one. Again I love his game and I found him to be a phenomenal person,” Hollis-Jefferson said of Brownlee who, despite the obvious discomfort, managed to play for 25 minutes in the contest finishing with 14 points.
“I just want him to feel better, take care of his body, and take care of whatever he needs to,” added Hollis-Jefferson who, for his part, scattered a huge triple-double of 36 points, 16 rebounds and 10 assist to lead TNT to the doorstep of its very first Governors’ Cup crown.
TNT pounced on the absence of Brownlee as Hollis-Jefferson spearheaded a huge 25-8 start in the second half to erase a deficit which was once as many as 15 points in the first half.
“If he can play the next game, let’s do it. If not, at the end of the day basketball is something that brings a lot of people together, but it’s not what keeps you together. At the end of the day it’s about yourself, it’s about taking care of yourself and feeling good,” he added.
“I will pray for him and send my well wishes to him.”
