WANTED: RONDAE Tropang 5G missing Hollis-Jefferson’s presence

There’s a huge “wanted” sign hanging on the door of TNT Tropang 5G.

The Tropang 5G admitted that they are missing the presence of their prolific import — Rondae Hollis-Jefferson — after absorbing two straight losses in the early stretch of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Philippine Cup.

Veteran Roger Pogoy said life without Hollis-Jefferson is not easy, making it tough for them to complete a grand slam, a feat that is so rare that only four teams in the league’s 50-year history were able to accomplish.

The Tropang 5G, for one, are struggling on the defensive end as they are used to having the American-Jordanian forward plucking the rebounds despite his 6-foot-6 frame.

In their 94-100 loss to Converge last Sunday at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City, the TNT defense was loose while gunner Calvin Oftana carried the offensive cudgels with 33 points.

Pogoy said something must be done as this is their first conference to compete without the 30-year-old Hollis-Jefferson.

“Honestly, we had to adjust, especially on the defensive end since we played with Rondae for the past two conferences. He would be the first to get the rebounds,” said Pogoy, who finished with 15 points for the Tropang Giga against the FiberXers.

“We started badly and we couldn’t get our rhythm. It was a good thing we were able to play well in the second half.”

Converge dominated the rebounding department, 48-38, thanks to its twin towers of Justin Arana and Justine Baltazar.

The FiberXers also bullied TNT in the shaded area with 58 points in the paint compared to the Tropang 5G’s 28 points.

‘It was a good thing I was able to play here. I only slept for a bit and played here.’

Knowing that they will chase the grand slam without their prized import, TNT head coach Chot Reyes left no stone unturned in preparing his wards.

In fact, the Tropang 5G had a four-day training camp at the Inspire Academy in Calamba, Laguna two weeks ago to make sure that they will be ready — physically and mentally — for the tough grind ahead.

But their goal of winning the grand slam was off to a bumpy start as NLEX dealt them with an ugly 91-74 beating in their first game last Wednesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Then, Converge added to their woes with towering centers Arana and Baltazar terrorizing the paint for a combined 43 points to erect a 22-point lead before thwarting the TNT rallies in the final canto.

“We came into the conference without playing any tune-up games so it was expected we would have to adjust. We didn’t expect to play like this in our second game,” said Pogoy, who missed the team’s practice last Saturday to tend to his wife and their newborn son.

“It was a good thing I was able to play here. I only slept for a bit and played here.”

TNT is bracing for two tough games as they play outside Metro Manila against Phoenix on Friday at the Ynares Center in Montalban and San Miguel Beer on Sunday at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.

By then, the Tropang 5G must have figured things out.

“I hope we will be able to duplicate our result from the last conference,” Pogoy said, adding that it’s going to be demoralizing to fall in a dark 0-4 hole.