SIDELINED by COVID-19 in TNT’s biggest game in the PBA Philippine Cup last Sunday, coach Chot Reyes could only watch from isolation and perhaps felt he was at the loneliest place on earth.
The hard-fighting Tropang Giga gallantly battled mighty San Miguel Beer but wilted when it mattered most, losing 97-117 in the titular match of their best-of-7 finals showdown for the season-opening crown before a wild and roaring crowd, leaving Reyes bloodied but unbowed.
“The last two weeks were some of the toughest in my coaching career — having to coach in the PBA finals and the FIBA window in Beirut and Manila. Won some, lost some, but learned a lot,” Reyes said on his Instagram account last Monday night.
“What makes it all worthwhile is the opportunity to work with some extraordinary men as part of an extraordinary team in the pursuit of some extraordinary dreams,” he added.
Aside from Reyes, TNT played without forward Glenn Khobuntin due to an MCL injury, while hardworking big man JP Erram was thrown out of the match after he was slapped a flagrant foul penalty two for hitting the head of Mo Tautuaa at the 55.1-second mark of the second quarter.
Reyes tipped his hat off to Beermen counterpart Leo Austria but reserved the biggest praises to his team, led by veteran playmaker Jayson Castro who fought through a sprained right ankle, and Kelly Williams.
“Congrats to coach Leo Austria and the @smbbasketball_pba for the championship but so immensely proud of our guys led by @jaywill_17 & @kxlwilliams_ for their courage in battling overwhelming odds,” Reyes said. “Sorry I couldn’t be on the floor with you for that last one. On to the next!”
Castro, meanwhile, admitted SMB was simply too much for the Tropang Giga in Game 7.
“Lumaban naman kami hanggang huli. Pero siyempre malakas talaga sila,” Castro said.
“Kitang-kita naman lalo na iyong second group nila. Sobrang hindi namin sila mai-stop.
Kahit ma-stop sila, lagi silang may pang-counter.”
TNT emerged with an 8-3 mark after the eliminations to gain the second seed where it made short work of No. 8 Converge in the quarterfinals.
The Tropang Giga beat third-ranked Magnolia 4-2 in their best-of-7 semifinals duel to forge a title duel with SMB but just fell short in their drive for a second straight diadem after winning it all last year in Bacolor.
