CHOT Reyes played down the incident between him and TNT shooting guard Kim Aurin late in the first half of Sunday’s Game 3 against Rain or Shine in the PBA Philippine Cup semifinals.
Reyes was seen furiously admonishing Aurin as the former University of Perpetual Help gunner was walking back to the bench in the final second of the first half.
READ Guiao reacts to spate of TNT technicals, flagrant fouls in Game 3 loss
The six-time Coach of the Year said the scolding was more of reminding Aurin about missing his defensive assignment as the second quarter was coming to an end.
“Hindi siya sumunod sa instruction,” Reyes simply explained the episode which saw him even kicking a part of the LED board in frustration.
“Sa amin, you can make mistakes on effort or execution, but if you do not follow instructions, that’s insubordination. He was supposed to foul, hindi niya sinunod, upo siya. Ganun lang naman yun.”
Aurin failed to foul Adrian Nocum, and instead, pushed his own teammate Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser in order to stop the Rain or Shine sophomore guard from making a play.
That paved the way for Leonard Santillan to score with a foul to boot from Glen Khobuntin. The Rain or Shine big man completed the three-point play to give the team a 50-37 lead.
Aurin was never fielded back in the 107-86 blowout loss which cut TNT’s lead in the best-of-seven series at 2-1.
He finished with four points and an assist in 15 minutes of play.
Strange T
And the irony of it all, Reyes was whistled for a technical foul after recalling Aurin to the bench for Calvin Oftana.
Reyes said he was surprised to be given a technical when it was Aurin who’s been the target of his outrage.
“Hindi naman ako nagre-reklamo sa mga referees. Siya (Aurin) yung pinapagalitan ko,” the TNT mentor said. “But it is what it is.”
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