Seething rivalry

The raging rivalry between TNT’s Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and Barangay Ginebra’s Justin Brownlee is the underlying dramatic story behind the PBA Governors’ Cup Finals now moving to Game Three at the Smart Araneta Coliseum tomorrow.

They never faced off in college as Brownlee, 36, played two years at St. John’s University in 2009-10 and 2010-11 while Hollis-Jefferson, 29, saw action in two years at the University of Arizona in 2013-14 and 2014-15. Their careers took different paths that eventually led to the PBA.

Brownlee wasn’t drafted in the NBA and tried his luck in summer leagues with the New York Knicks twice and Charlotte Hornets once. Ginebra coach Tim Cone said the NBA missed out on Brownlee and called him the best player never to see action in the NBA. Hollis-Jefferson, however, took his act to the NBA. He was picked on the first round by the Portland Trail Blazers in the 2015 NBA draft and suited up for Brooklyn, Toronto and Portland in that order over six years, playing in 305 regular season games, including 154 starts. He also logged 14 playoff outings for the same three clubs. Basketball Reference estimated his NBA earnings to be $9.6 million.

Among Hollis-Jefferson’s NBA teammates were Damian Lillard, Melo Anthony, CJ McCollum, Kyle Lowry, Pascal Siakam, Serge Ibaka, Jeremy Lin, Andrew Nicholson and Marc Gasol. He said Kobe Bryant is his all-time idol and there’s actually an uncanny resemblance in their looks. Hollis-Jefferson is left-handed and Bryant was mainly right-handed although ambidextrous but their styles are similar in many ways.

Hollis-Jefferson singled out Lillard as the best player and person among those he’s played with in the NBA. He’s close to Lowry as they’re both from Pennsylvania. A former teammate whom he’s in constant contact with is Gasol who now runs the Basquet Girona team in the Spanish league as president.

Hollis-Jefferson drew attention from NBA scouts when he played on back-to-back Arizona teams in the NCAA Elite Eight. Brownlee didn’t get the same opportunity to advance to the playoffs. Hollis-Jefferson played in Turkey, Puerto Rico, Korea and in the PBA. He became a naturalized player for Jordan and performed in the FIBA World Cup and Asian Games last year. Hollis-Jefferson is on his third PBA conference with a title and a Best Import award to show.

Brownlee has played in Mexico, Italy, France, Lebanon, the United Arab Emirates, Indonesia and in the PBA.  He has won championships in the ABL, PBA (six), Lebanon, the UAE and Indonesia. In the PBA, he’s a three-time Best Import awardee and on his 11th conference. As a naturalized player with Gilas, Brownlee has played on championship squads in the SEA and Asian Games.

On a head-to-head basis, Hollis-Jefferson has won seven of 10 matchups with Brownlee, excluding Game Two of the Governors’ Cup Finals last night. Hollis-Jefferson said he’s still smarting from Jordan’s loss to the Philippines in the Asian Games final. Brownlee isn’t dwelling on the rivalry and said there’s mutual respect for each other. It’s a treat that two of the PBA’s best imports ever are now facing off in their second Finals duel. But the battle is more than just mano-a-mano. The better import will be the one who’s able to bring out the best in his teammates to win the championship.