CHOT Reyes won’t be having one of his trusted lieutenants on the TNT bench when the PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals kick offs on Wednesday night against Barangay Ginebra at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Sandy Arespacochaga will be missing at least the first two games of the best-of-seven series as he’s currently calling the shots for the Gilas women’s U18 team campaigning in the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup SEABA Qualifiers in Bacolod City.
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The veteran TNT deputy considered the situation as a ‘happy problem’ for him especially after the Tropang 5G managed to make it back to the finals for a chance at retaining their title.
Arespacochaga left with the entire national team last Monday, less than 24 hours after TNT scored a 97-94 series clincher against Meralco in their best-of-seven semifinals.
“Hahabol na lang ako as soon as matapos yung tournament,” he said.
The SEABA qualifiers will wrap up on Saturday at the STI West Negros University gym, which meant Arespacochaga is going to be available already by Game 3 on Sunday at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Arespacochaga is one of Chot’s TNT deputies along with his son Josh Reyes (lead assistant), Bong Ravena, Ranidel De Ocampo, Yuri Escueta, and Ryan Reyes.
The Gilas girls won their initial outing on Tuesday against Vietnam, 93-42, and will have their next game on Wednesday opposite Singapore.
The team then faces Indonesia on Thursday, takes a break Friday before ending its stint against Thailand on Saturday.
It was the first time Arespacochaga is handling the Gilas girls, which only had one practice as a full team on Monday.
Tiffany Reyes and Sophia Dignadice were the late arrivals coming from the US.
“We have high hopes,” said Arespacochaga of the expectations on the Gilas girls.
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