For the first time since suffering one of the biggest setbacks of his professional career, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson can finally see the finish line.
The former PBA Best Import has taken another major step in his recovery from a torn Achilles tendon, raising hopes that his return to TNT Tropang 5G could happen before the end of the 2026 PBA Governors’ Cup.
In a recent update shared by TNT on social media, Hollis-Jefferson revealed that his rehabilitation has reached a significant milestone nearly five months after undergoing surgery.
“I’m at almost five months post-surgery, I’m moving a lot better, I’m able to run, jump and start to do on court stuff,” he said.
“I will say, around this five-month mark is where things start to ramp up where we do more work, pool workouts and a lot of strengthening.”
Although the explosive forward is back running and working on basketball movements, he emphasized that there is still no fixed timetable for his comeback.
“I can’t give y’all an exact date but we’re looking at somewhere between September and October.”
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Former PBA import Chris McCullough shared how TNT reached out to him & expressed excitement about the possibility of joining a team he once faced in the Finals.He also wished Bol Bol well & credited Rondae Hollis-Jefferson for helping make the connection.|via Pao Ambat/One Sports pic.twitter.com/qJ3wD1PctN
— One Sports (@OneSportsPHL) May 24, 2026
The update marks a welcome development for TNT, which has patiently waited for one of the franchise’s most successful imports to regain full health.
Hollis-Jefferson suffered the devastating Achilles injury in December while suiting up for the Meralco Bolts in the East Asia Super League, abruptly ending another strong campaign just months after helping TNT capture another PBA championship.
Rather than rushing his recovery, the Tropang 5G have opted for a cautious approach, prioritizing the long-term health of the former NBA veteran.
With Hollis-Jefferson still completing his rehabilitation, TNT will begin its Governors’ Cup campaign with former NBA forward Darius Days serving as its reinforcement.
The season-ending conference opens on July 10, though the Tropang 5G will make their first appearance on July 19 when they face guest team Macau at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
If recovery continues according to plan, however, TNT’s biggest mid-conference addition may not come through a new signing—but through the return of the import who has become synonymous with the franchise’s recent championship success.
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