Macau point guard Damian Chongqi had a tough assignment on Saturday: go head-to-head against Meralco’s Rondae Hollis-Jefferson.
It wasn’t an easy night for the Black Bears, who fell 92-74 to the Bolts at Cebu Coliseum. But Chongqi, despite the loss, was still quite satisfied to go up against a talent like RHJ.
‘He’s a great player. Obviously, he played in the NBA for years so it’s fun to compete on a high level against that player,’ he said of Hollis-Jefferson.
‘He has great size, plays really hard, is very physical and he’s a good defender. He got to put on a show for the fans for a good cause so it’s fun to play in front of the crowd like that.’ Hollis-Jefferson fed off the rowdy Cebuano crowd, registering a double-double of 34 points and 11 rebounds with five assists and two steals to match for Meralco’s second straight win.
He didn’t just feed off the Cebuanos’ love, he also almost drowned in it.
Fresh off the win, Hollis-Jefferson was the last Meralco player to reach the dugout with fans swarming him inside the hardwood. When security escorted him away from the court, though, fans still flocked his way.
Chongqi understood why the crowd adored Hollis-Jefferson.
‘It’s always an honor to play for a cause like this. Just being here and seeing the local fans come out is a humbling feeling. I’m just blessed to do this at a high level and do it for charity,’ Chongqi said.
The streaky point guard was no slack for the Black Bears whatsoever, managing to finish with 25 points and four assists despite the squad’s season-opening loss.