CHOT Reyes will be re-taking the TNT head-coaching position starting in the PBA 48th season Philippine Cup, with Jojo Lastimosa keeping his role as team manager, the club announced on Saturday morning.
Reyes will return to his old role for the Tropang Giga which he relinquished to focus on the Gilas Pilipinas head coach job during last year's Fiba Basketball World Cup.
READ: Chot to reclaim TNT coaching job
Reyes stepped down from the Gilas post after the World Cup.
Lastimosa not only stayed on as team manager but even signed an extension, TNT said, obviously due to his performance over the past months.
With Lastimosa taking the dual role as coach and team manager on an interim basis, TNT captured the 2023 Governors' Cup championship last March, defeating Barangay Ginebra in the finals.
Lastimosa was later adjudged as the Executive of the Year by the PBA Press Corps.
Injuries left TNT struggling in the 2023-24 Commissioner's Cup but Lastimosa managed to bring the Tropang Giga to the playoffs before being ousted by top seed Magnolia in the quarterfinals just last Wednesday.
Jolas given contract extension
Lastimosa said his current contract will actually expire in the middle of 2025 but management, led by TNT team owner Manny V. Pangilinan and team governor Ricky Vargas, made the decision to extend.
"VPV (Vargas) just gave me an extensionner and just reworked the start of my term from January 1, 2024 to December 31, 2026," said Lastimosa.
Lastimosa thanked Pangilinan, Vargas and Al Panlilio for the trust, while expressing confidence that Reyes will take the team to new heights.
"I was grateful for the opportunity from VPV, ASP and MVP to pitch in and help the franchise weather the storm a bit and let Coach Chot find his groove back," said Lastimosa.
"Chot looks really rejuvenated and is ready to get to work," the former PBA star added.
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