By REYNALD MAGALLON
TNT will miss some of its key players when it tries to close out its series against Rain or Shine in Game 5, now, it may need to do it without its head coach.
That, as head coach Chot Reyes is suspended for one game after incurring his fifth technical foul in the ongoing Philippine Cup during TNT’s 108-92 win over ROS last Wednesday, July 2.
It was a rule that is written on the league’s rulebook and has been implemented by the PBA for years now with Rain or Shine’s Beau Belga and San Miguel’s Jericho Cruz once being at the receiving end of the automatic suspensions after incurring their fifth technical foul.
Reyes’ fifth technical foul came barely five minutes into Game 4 when he was assessed with the foul due to a resentment to a call.
The absence of the veteran bench tactician further adds to the woes of the Tropang 5G who are coming into the contest banged-up and bruised with injuries to some of its players.
TNT is likely to miss Kelly Williams due to an ankle sprain while Calvin Oftana (ankle) and Jordan Heading (back) are expected to play through their respective injuries.
The Tropa are already without Jayson Castro, Rey Nambatac and recently, RR Pogoy due to a hamstring injury.
Without Reyes at the bench, TNT deputies Sandy Arespacochaga, Yuri Escueta and his son, Josh, will be working on calling the shots against a ROS team surely eager to extend their tournament lives.
