The raging debate on who’s the better import – Barangay Ginebra’s Justin Brownlee or TNT’s Rondae Hollis-Jefferson – will be settled once and for all at the end of the PBA Governors’ Cup Finals which reel off at the Ynares Center, Antipolo, on Sunday. They haven’t faced off this conference so far since TNT and Ginebra played in separate groups during the eliminations. TNT finished No. 1 in Group A while Ginebra was No. 3 in Group B. It was inevitable that down the road, they would match up.
On a head-to-head basis, JB and RHJ have battled in nine games, seven in the 2022-23 Governors’ Cup and two in the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games. RHJ has the edge in wins, six to three, and in stats. In the nine encounters, RHJ averaged 25.8 points, 13.1 rebounds and 6.6 assists while JB normed 23.8 points, 8.1 rebounds and 4.1 assists. RHJ posted seven double-doubles plus a triple double. JB had five double-doubles.
In the 2022-23 Governors’ Cup Finals, RHJ shot at least 30 points in four of the six games with a low of 23 and a high of 34. JB scored at least 30 points once with a low of 23 and a high of 31. That was the conference where RHJ took Best Import honors, relegating JB to second place. It’s also the conference where TNT and RHJ are now defending the championship.
In the Asian Games, RHJ suited up for Jordan and JB, for the Philippines as naturalized players. In the group stage, Jordan clobbered Gilas, 87-62 as RHJ compiled 24 points, six rebounds and nine assists compared to JB’s 24 points, two rebounds and three assists. They met in a rematch for the gold medal, this time with Gilas pounding out a convincing 70-60 victory with JB collecting 20 points, 10 rebounds and five assists to RHJ’s 24 points, 12 rebounds and five assists.
In this Governors’ Cup, JB is averaging 28.3 points, 9.2 rebounds, 5.8 assists and 40:51 minutes, shooting .309 from four, .487 from three, .758 from the line and .509 from the field overall. RHJ is norming 28 points, 12.9 rebounds, 6.4 assists and 42:48 minutes, shooting 0.71 from four, .279 from three, .700 from the line and .476 from the field overall.
JB, 36, is in his 11th PBA conference with six championships and three Finals MVP awards. He has won titles in the PBA, ABL, Lebanon, United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, SEA Games and Asian Games. RHJ, 29, was Portland’s first round pick in the 2015 NBA draft and played for Brooklyn, Toronto and Portland in 305 games over six years, earning $9.6 million. He has played in Turkey, Puerto Rico, Korea and the 2023 FIBA World Cup. This is his third PBA conference. JB never made it to the NBA although he had Summer League stints with New York twice and Charlotte.
The last time they met, JB got the better of RHJ at the Asian Games. But the last time they tangled in the PBA, RHJ ran away with the Governors’ Cup. Now, they’re out to settle the score in their personal duel.