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Manila Bulletin devider Sports devider Basketball devider Cone says PBA fans lucky to witness another chapter of Brownlee-RHJ rivalry

Cone says PBA fans lucky to witness another chapter of Brownlee-RHJ rivalry

Published Mar 12, 2025 06:57 am

At A Glance

  • The PBA opened its door to taller and heftier imports when it removed the height limit in the PBA Season 49 Commissioner's Cup and yet a pair of 6-foot-6 reinforcements remained the last ones standing in the Finals.

The PBA opened its door to taller and heftier imports when it removed the height limit in the PBA Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup and yet a pair of 6-foot-6 reinforcements remained the last ones standing in the Finals.

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But they are not merely just smaller imports. They are arguably two of the best to have ever set foot on the PBA hardwood – Barangay Ginebra’s Justin Brownlee and TNT’s Rondae Hollis-Jefferson.

And there’s certainly a reason why, despite giving up some inches against their taller counterparts, they still managed to help their respective teams to their second straight Finals matchup.

“It's really, I think, just the idea of continuity and these guys being in the league and knowing the league, being able to fit well with their respective teams,” Ginebra head coach Tim Cone explained.

“RHJ has just brought a tremendous mentality to the TNT team. He shows up every game, he shows up every quarter, every possession, and he just inspires his teammates. You can just see it on the floor all the time,” the veteran coach commented on the TNT import.

“And for Justin, it's that comfortability that we have with him, the confidence that we have in him, knowing he's going to show up at big moments, just being a great teammate, and just being one of the guys. And never asking for special treatment, never asking really for anything,” he added.

And the numbers just backed all of Cone’s thoughts on the two super imports.

Hollis-Jefferson has been all over the floor for the Tropang Giga through 18 games so far this conference, averaging 28.7 points, 12.44 rebounds, 5.0 assists on top of 1.89 steals and 1.83 blocks.

Brownlee is not too shabby for himself with Ginebra, norming 23.3 points, 8.9 rebounds, 4.8 assists and nearly one blocks and steals per game in the 20 outings for the Kings.

And with both Finals protagonists boasting these quality imports in the best-of-seven affair, Cone said that it would be the fans that will enjoy the most, especially with the two’s rich history against each other underlining what is expected to be another epic showdown.

“Just two special players. And we're lucky at this time right now in the PBA to be able to witness these two guys go at each other,” Cone said as Brownlee and Hollis-Jefferson meet for third time in the Finals.

“These are momentous times. I think when we look back ten years from now, we're going to be remembering these times when the rivalry was big between Justin and RHJ,” added the multi-titled mentor.

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