Due primarily to his improved physical condition, Stephen Holt has begun to contribute favorably in the PBA 49th Season Governors’ Cup Finals.

Tim Cone, the coach of Barangay Ginebra, disclosed that Holt’s performance versus TNT, where his primary responsibility is to protect Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, was impacted by an illness he endured during the first two games of the finals. 

Prior to Game Four, the match in which he ultimately had a breakthrough performance in the finals, Holt had posted acceptable figures of 11 points, 6.3 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 1.7 steals, so the statistics didn’t really indicate that he was in sick bay.

On Sunday, Holt finished with 18 points, 3 rebounds, and 2 assists. However, Holt’s five thefts, which matched his total in that statistical category in the first three games of the finals, were the high point of his performance and helped Barangay Ginebra defeat TNT 106-92.

Following three games in which Holt shot a cumulative 9-for-29 (31 percent) from the field, he shot 6-for-15 (40 percent) in Game Four, including four three-pointers, which allowed Barangay Ginebra to gain the upper hand. At 1:28 in the fourth, he made his final three, giving the Gin Kings a 104-92 advantage.

Although Hollis-Jefferson is still the center of attention for the defensive effort, Holt stated that he deliberately tried to be more aggressive offensively for Game Four, particularly because he felt he was hesitating to take shots in the previous three games.

Holt said, “That’s just been the biggest challenge for me in this series. Obviously, it takes a lot of energy on the defensive end mentally and physically just to lock in on that match-up individually one-on-one defense, but also within the team scheme. That’s kinda taken away a little bit of my aggressiveness offensively’’.

Holt claimed that his defense-focused approach was the only reason for his five steals.

Meanwhile, two Ginebra players were mentioned by CHOT Reyes as having a significant impact on the Kings’ 106-92 victory over TNT in Game 4 of the PBA Governors’ Cup Finals on Sunday night.

Given their performances in front of a record audience of 16,783 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, the Tropang Giga coach indicated that Maverick Ahanmisi and Stephen Holt posed a serious threat to the team.

With their second consecutive victory, the Kings tied the best-of-seven title series at 2-2. Ahanmisi and Holt both finished with 18 points apiece and were instrumental in the closing moments.

Both players sank two dagger treys that put a dampener on the Tropang Giga’s recovery as they entered the homestretch, with Ahanmisi scoring half of his total in the final quarter and Holt scoring six during the same stretch.

In the end, the two Fil-Am guards combined to make six of the Kings’ nine three-pointers.

The manner that Holt, the Rookie of the Year from the previous season, played both ends of the court and took on the difficult assignment of attempting to slow down Conference Best Import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson also impressed Reyes.

According to Reyes, the Tropang Giga need a quick remedy on how to stop Holt and Ahanmisi in order to contain a resurgent Ginebra team that has now grabbed control of the series.

Since Game 5 won’t take place in the Big Dome until Wednesday, TNT has two days to make adjustments.