Chot: It will be TNT against itself

CHOT Reyes says it wouldn’t be him against Tim Cone in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals starting Monday.

It wouldn’t even be about defending champion Talk ‘N Text versus B-Meg in the best-of-seven series.

Without actually saying it, Reyes is telling everyone that, practically, it is going to be Talk ‘N Text—the side that is nurturing a dynasty in the pro league—versus itself.

“It’s not a matter of making him regret (wishing that Talk ‘N Text makes the Finals),” Reyes said when informed that Cone had virtually asked for the Tropang Texters to win over Barako Bull in the rubber match of their best-of-five semifinal series on Wednesday.

Reyes and his defending champion Texters bagged their place in the title playoffs with a hard-earned 101-90 win over the Energy, sealing another exciting technical battle between two of the PBA’s winningest coaches.

Though verbal fireworks are not expected between the two mentors, being very close friends, both Reyes and Cone can provide many interesting things on the floor.

And, for the second time this year, it would be one of Manny V. Pangilinan’s teams—the Texters—against one of Ramon S. Ang’s squads, the Llamados, for a PBA crown.

Talk ‘N Text has won four of the last five titles, barely missing a Grand Slam last season when Petron Blaze, another of Ang’s squads, pounded out a championship to remember in the season-ending Governors’ Cup.

Talking of a sweep of the three jewels at stake for the year is taking too far ahead.

But going there, Reyes needs to hurdle Cone’s men.

“Tim and I go back a long way,” Reyes said. “I equally relish the opportunity.”