By REYNALD MAGALLON
While many have been fixated on the thought of TNT winning a Grand Slam in the PBA’s 49th season, the same cannot be said to the man who was at the helm of that ambitious bid – head coach Chot Reyes.
To Reyes, the upcoming best-of-seven Philippine Cup Finals is just like any other series he has been into.
“Believe it or not, hindi ko talaga inisip yung Grand Slam. Even up to now, when I come to coach, I coach what’s in front of me,” insisted Reyes during the pre-finals press conference on Friday,July 11 at the Chardonnay by Astoria in Pasig City.
“Even in our team discussions, we really never talk about winning a championship. We talk about being the hardest-working, best-conditioned team. If we do that, then the winning will follow,” he added.
It’s now Reyes’ second shot at the Grand Slam after coming close to winning the PBA triple crown back in 2011 only to be foiled by then named Petron Blaze Boosters – the same franchise, San Miguel, that is standing between him and the coveted achievement.
And even getting back at the same franchise that denied him the Grand Slam does not excite Reyes.
“2011 is really ancient history for me. It’s not even in my consciousness. This tournament, this finals, is going to be nice to win on its own merits, not because of any past experience,” he added.
Should Reyes’ succeed this time he’ll be joining a legendary company of Grand Slam coaches in Baby Dalupan, Tommy Manotoc, Norman Black and Tim Cone.
And while achieving such an elite status should be a defining moment especially for Reyes who was often a subject of online vitriol particularly during his run as Gilas head coach, the six-time Coach of the Year isnt pushing himself too much to achieve it.
If there’s a reason why he wanted to win, it is for his players, his bosses and the TNT franchise
“Everything that I went through, there was a reason for that. If the reason is a Grand Slam, so be it. But if not, I’ve gotten over it. There is no rancor or any bitterness in my heart because I don’t allow others to affect what is inside of me,” said Reyes.
“My motivation is to do my best to give the guys behind me, our players and our management, a good victory,” he stressed.
