Barangay Ginebra star Stephen Holt. Photo from PBA Images

MANILA — Stephen Holt will have the chance to add another championship to his lengthy basketball resume.

The 6-foot-4 guard was among Barangay Ginebra San Miguel's weapons in their PBA Governors' Cup semifinals victory over the San Miguel Beermen, as the 2023-24 Rookie of the Year normed 14 points, 4.7 rebounds, 4.2 assists, and 0.8 blocks in six games against SMB.

READ: Ginebra ousts San Miguel, sets up Govs' Cup finals rematch with TNT

"It's a tremendous feeling," said Holt, who also did his part on the other end by defending the likes of EJ Anosike and CJ Perez for him to earn his first-ever PBA Finals appearance.

"Every step in my career so far in the PBA, I tell you guys here all the time — I'm here to win — so I'll do whatever I can do to help the team," he added. 

Holt's last professional basketball championship was in 2017 when he won the Czech National Basketball League (NBL) title with CEZ Nymburk. 

Following these are a number of bridesmaid finishes across different leagues, and he admitted that he will use these heartbreaks as fuel in their upcoming bout against the TNT Tropang Giga. 

"I've been so close to winning a championship in Europe, that's why I'm so hungry. My last championship was in 2017, so it's been a long time," he shared. "I've come in second place so many times in Europe, so I kinda use that as motivation."

However, Holt understands that their best-of-7 affair with the Tropang Giga will not be a walk in the park.

"They are very talented. They go up and down the floor, so we just got to compete against them. What's gonna take is a total team effort," emphasized the former TerraFirma Dyip star. 

To enter the Finals, TNT is coming off a gentleman's sweep of the Rain or Shine ElastoPainters, and heading this dominant triumph of Chot Reyes' troops was Rondae Hollis-Jefferson.

TNT Tropang Giga star Rondae Hollis-Jefferson. Photo from PBA Images.

Hollis-Jefferson put up 26.2 markers, 12.0 boards, 7.2 dimes, 3.8 steals, and 2.2 blocks in five games versus the E-Painters, and Holt knows that the former NBA player is not stopping anytime soon. 

"It's gonna be a total team effort [defending him]," explained Holt. "I don't know if I'll get the first crack on Rondae. It's obviously gonna be a mix between me and [Justin Brownlee], but it's gonna take a total team effort."

Fortunately for the Ginebra faithful, Stephen is not only bringing with him his previous Finals losses, but he also understands the weight and responsibility of delivering championships for the PBA's most popular franchise. 

"I know what the culture is about, putting that Ginebra jersey on and what it means to the fans," he emphasized. "So now that we're here, we have to prepare and get ready. I have to take advantage of this opportunity."

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