College heartbreak vs Shabazz Muhammad lights fire under RHJ

Magnolia Hotshots’ Shabazz Muhammad against TNT Tropang Giga’s Rondae Hollis-Jefferson during a PBA Governors’ Cup game. –PBA IMAGES

MANILA, Philippines—Roughly 10 years ago, a young Rondae Hollis-Jefferson watched his Arizona Wildcats bow out of the Pac-12 championship after losing to the UCLA Bruins led by Shabazz Muhammad.

A few NBA and overseas basketball league stints later, Hollis-Jefferson and Muhammad’s paths crossed once again.

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And boy, did RHJ recall the moments of old.

READ: PBA: Behind RHJ’s heroics, TNT hangs tough to beat Magnolia

“We actually crossed paths in college. He was in the PAC 12 as well. He was in UCLA and I went to Arizona,” said an exhausted RHJ at Ninoy Aquino Stadium on Tuesday.

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“In my freshman year, he beat us in the PAC 12 championship. I still hold on to that. Y’all don’t know that but I still hold on to that.”

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Hollis-Jefferson couldn’t even remember how they fared against each other when they were in the NBA: “I think we played against each other when he was in Minnesota?” he pondered, quite unsure of the history.

TNT import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson drives to the basket against Magnolia Hotshots defenders. –PBA IMAGES

He did, however, remember college and he will, for sure, remember the Tropang Giga’s most recent win in Group A of the PBA Governors’ Cup where they narrowly won over Magnolia, who had the services of import Muhammad.

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TNT outlasted the Hotshots, 84-82, behind another tremendous outing from the 2023 Govs. Cup’s Best Import of the Conference with 29 points and 25 rebounds.

Muhammad, on the other hand, had a game, himself, with monster numbers of 30 points and 17 rebounds.

READ: PBA: Rondae Hollis-Jefferson ‘very excited’ to lead TNT title defense

But this time, it was RHJ and his efforts that reigned victorious over his tormentor from the past.

“It just comes down to effort. Seeing a lot of guys I played against like Kenneth Faried, Jared Sullinger, those dudes are resilient on the glass and it just came from effort and wanting to get rebounds,” Hollis-Jeffersonsaid.

“Knowing that a lot of shots would be taken, with that comes a lot of misses so securing rebounds was my goal and what I have to do to make sure we get a good offensive possession or a push.”

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Hollis-Jefferson’s heroics helped TNT clinch a quarterfinals spot with a 7-1 record while Muhammad’s Hotshots are still on the thick of things in the race for a spot with a 4-4 card.