Are you wondering where Rondae Hollis-Jefferson was on the night TNT won the PBA Commissioner’s Cup and earned their eighth and final playoff berth?

The PBA Commissioner’s Office reportedly instructed last year’s Best Import not to attend the Philsports Arena game after he and Rain or Shine Coach Yeng Guiao got into a verbal fight last week.

When questioned about the whereabouts of the gifted former NBA player on Sunday night, after the club defeated Phoenix Fuel Masters 116-96 to progress to the quarterfinals, Tropang Giga coach Jojo Lastimosa disclosed the information.

The 29-year-old import was reportedly subject to a portion of the sanctions imposed when he got into a heated argument with Guiao and the Rain or Shine squad during their emotional match a week prior, which the Elasto Painters won 109-102.

In the last 49 seconds of a close game that the Tropang Giga were trailing by just six points when the episode occurred, Rahlir Hollis-Jefferson, the brother and substitute of Rondae, was called into question by TNT. Hollis-Jefferson furiously challenged game officials as a result.

As he pursued the referees on the sideline, the TNT import approached the Rain or Shine bench, something the Elasto Painters evidently did not appreciate, finally causing a verbal incident between Hollis-Jefferson and Guiao.

Later, the league punished Hollis-Jefferson P20, 000 for missing the team’s crucial match against Phoenix, while Guiao received P10, 000 for giving the do-it-all foreigner the finger.

However, Lastimosa stated he anticipates Hollis-Jefferson to be back on the sidelines supporting the Tropang Giga on Wednesday at the beginning of the quarterfinals when they take on the top-seeded Magnolia Hotshots.

The Hotshots have a two-game advantage over their opponent who is ranked eighth.

Furthermore, the TNT coach hinted that Hollis-Jefferson would don a TNT uniform once more when the team takes on Anyang Jung Kwan Jang Red Boosters on January 24 at the Philsports Arena in its decisive EASL match.

After leading the Tropang Giga to their historic victory last month over the visiting Taipei Fubon Braves, 80-69 in Sta. Ana, the Hollis-Jefferson siblings will once more be the team’s captains. Laguna Rosa.

Look toward the future rather than the past. It’s playoff PBA basketball. Every one of the eight quarter finals teams is approaching this as a brand-new matchup, a struggle for dominance.

Particularly for the top-seeded Magnolia Chicken Timplados, who will have their backs targeted as they attempt to live up to the hype and strive to break a title drought in the PBA.

Magnolia last won the PBA Commissioner’s Cup five years ago, so it is understood that the team is excited for another Champagne shower.

It is difficult to say if Magnolia coach Chito Victolero is feeling a little nervous before his team’s first-ever quarterfinal matchup against TNT, a group with a storied PBA history. Despite their eighth-place seeding, Victolero and the Chicken Timplados—who are trying to avoid becoming TNT’s midday fare—would be stupid to view the match as a piece of cake.

Victolero is approaching the game as if it were the start of a new season because he understands its importance.

Magnolia seemed to be in the lead on paper. It won nine games and only lost two during the elimination round, demonstrating steady form that helped it win the qualification series. TNT, 110-102, was one of its victims on November 2 of last year, when the season began.

Since their last meeting two months ago, TNT has undergone a lot of change. Players like Roger Pogoy are beginning to regain form after injuries, while Rahlir Hollis-Jefferson has added a new dimension to the club.

One disadvantage for Magnolia, if disadvantages can be said to exist, is that it was discovered last Sunday that TNT would be its opponent, following the Tropang Giga’s 116-96 victory over Phoenix. Magnolia, on the other hand, took a lengthy 11-day break after their most recent game, an 85-80 loss to Meralco in Iloilo City on January 6.