Rahlir Hollis-Jefferson takes over from brother Rondae as TNT’s Commissioner’s Cup import

Rahlir Hollis-Jefferson will replace his injured brother Rondae as TNT’s import for the PBA Season 48 Commissioner’s Cup, as per the team’s head coach Jojo Lastimosa.

Lastimosa revealed that Rondae suffered a neck injury from a bad fall during the Tropang Giga’s East Asia Super League game on Monday. The team is taking a cautious approach with the Jordanian naturalized player after his concerning fall against the Taipei Fubon Braves on December 20 that required a hospital visit.

“Hindi na puwedeng bumalik si Rondae because he is injured. We are putting in Rahlir, his brother,” said Lastimosa.

According to PBA rules, an import can only be replaced once per conference.

Since TNT already replaced original import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson with Quincy Miller before their first Commissioner’s Cup game, Hollis-Jefferson is no longer eligible to return for the Tropang Giga for the remainder of the tournament.

“He is very fragile. He cannot turn his neck and I talked to his doctor yesterday and ‘yung injury na spinal cord na ganun, you don’t take it lightly. Even if wala nang pain, it’s a physical game. It can be jarred again and re-injure that neck again.”

“We are going the conservative part and protect Rondae’s career,” stressed Lastimosa.

Rondae is also unlikely to play in TNT’s East Asia Super League game on January 24 against the Anyang Jung Kwan Jang Red Boosters.

“Even the January game namin, hindi pa siguro makabalik si Rondae bumalik. We might have to play with one import,” said Lastimosa.

“EASL puwede pa siya bumalik, sa PBA hindi na.’