Coach Chot Reyes during the during the pre-finals press conference between TNT Tropang Giga and Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings. –PBA IMAGES
MANILA, Philippines—TNT coach Chot Reyes was a man of few words during the PBA Governors’ Cup Finals’ press conference on Thursday.
However, Reyes still got his message across loud and clear: to heck with the previous stats, the top mentor is focused on what’s ahead.
PBA Finals schedule: Ginebra Gin Kings vs TNT Tropang Giga
“I don’t look at the trends or the past. For me, it’s about what’s in front of me right now, the present,” said Reyes in Filipino at The Atrium in Enderun.
“In the end, what it will all boil down to are the players who execute and the team who wants it more.”
Reyes’ remarks came when he and Ginebra coach Tim Cone’s PBA Finals track record were mentioned.
In the six times that Reyes and Cone butted heads in the championship round, both mentors have three wins under their belt.
READ: PBA Finals: TNT carries extra weapons into duel vs Ginebra
The last time the two tacticians faced off in the grandest stage was in 2012 when Cone, who was with BMEG at the time, defeated Reyes’ Tropang Texters in seven games.
But a lot has changed in 12 years and now, it’s a brand new slate for both coaches.
While Reyes feels like he should be focused on what’s on their plate, someone on the TNT side doesn’t have the same mentality.
“I’m still not over that loss in Jordan,” said TNT import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, pertaining to his silver-medal finish in the 2023 Asian Games.
READ: PBA Finals: Kobe vs Jordan? Brownlee, RHJ face off for title again
Hollis-Jefferson was dominating in last year’s Asian Games until he faced Gilas Pilipinas which had the services of longtime import Justin Brownlee.
It was there where RHJ’s gold medal finish hopes for Jordan came to a screeching halt and now he’s in prime position to get his comeuppance.
“I’m competitive so I look forward to every time we match up with each other,” Hollis-Jefferson, the reigning Best Import of the Governors’ Cup, said.
“We always give our all. We just give it our all.”
Last year, the Tropang Giga defeated the Gin Kings in six games to win the franchise’s first ever Governors’ Cup title.