Chot Reyes absence to test mettle of other TNT coaches

Chot Reyes will miss two Finals games for TNT. —PBA IMAGES

TNT coach Chot Reyes considers his absence for the next two games of the Philippine Basketball Association Philippine Cup Finals as a test not only for his players but also for his staff.

With Gilas Pilipinas duties forcing Reyes to set aside the task of trying to guide the defending champions, who won the opener in thrilling fashion on Sunday, the other Tropang Giga coaches are hoping that they can hold the fort for Games 2 and 3.

“They’ll have to take the cudgels [and] let’s see how well I’ve prepared them,” said Reyes after TNT’s 86-84 win over San Miguel Beer last Sunday at Smart Araneta Coliseum courtesy of Jayson Castro’s shot at the buzzer.

Reyes will call the shots for Gilas Pilipinas in the fourth window of the Fiba (International Basketball Association) World Cup Asian Qualifiers, starting early Friday (Manila time) with a road match against Lebanon in Beirut.

The Philippines, led by Utah Jazz mainstay Jordan Clarkson, was scheduled to leave Manila at press time.

The Tropang Giga staff was already shorthanded prior to the start of the series with Josh Reyes, the head coach’s son, in Iran handling Gilas Pilipinas Youth’s campaign in the Fiba U-18 Asian Championship.

That leaves assistants Sandy Arespacochaga, Yuri Escueta, Ranidel de Ocampo, Bong Ravena, Mau Belen and even team manager Jojo Lastimosa shouldering the responsibilities of leading the team in lieu of Reyes.

“I’m very intentional in developing my coaching staff so that in situations like this, they can step in,” the elder Reyes said, adding that he will still check on TNT while in Beirut.

Game 2 is set on Wednesday at the Big Dome before the series shifts to Mall of Asia (MOA) Arena on Friday for Game 3.

Reyes will likely be around for Game 4 on Sunday at Araneta before proceeding to handle Gilas the following day against Saudi Arabia at MOA.

The Tropang Giga prevailed when Castro drained the jumper which barely beat the clock, putting them ahead in the best-of-seven affair.

But TNT had to overcome being down in the first half and weather a San Miguel rally late in the fourth to go home with the win.

“I think we gave them a lot of opportunities in the first half. They got like 10 extra possessions because of our 13 turnovers in the first half,” said Reyes. “I think we cleaned that up in the second half and when we do that we give them fewer opportunities.”