TNT keeps losing its players to injuries in the PBA Philippine Cup playoffs.
Now, the Tropang 5G are also going to lose their coach – at least for a game.
Chot Reyes is set to miss Game 5 of the semifinals series against Rain or Shine after incurring a total of five technical fouls in the season-ending meet.
PBA Comissioner Willie Marcial confirmed the suspension to Spin.ph, citing a provision in the rulebook of the league about the matter.
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Reyes’ absence couldn’t have come at a worse time as TNT is looking to wrap its best-of-seven series against the embattled Elasto Painters, who are down 3-1, in their matchup.
The articulate champion coach was whistled for his fifth T early barely five minutes into Game 4 for a resentment to a call.
Reyes skipping the game at the Smart Araneta Coliseum also comes with the possibility of TNT playing without injured big man Kelly Williams due to a sprained ankle and shooting guard Roger Pogoy (hamstring).
Top gunner Calvin Oftana is also nursing a double sprained ankle, but vows to play through the injury.
Reyes was already given a warning by the referees early into Game 4, before eventually receiving the technical foul at the 7:48 mark of the opening period and Rain or Shine leading, 8-7.
Curiously, the TNT coach's fourth technical during Game 3 came at the expense of Tropang 5G guard Kim Aurin.
The failure of Aurin to use the remaining foul of TNT before halftime led to a dressing down by Reyes on the former University of Perpetual Help gunner as he was walking his way to the TNT bench.
Reyes was so furious, game officials thought he was resenting to a call fouled on Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser, which eventually led to a T.
“Hindi naman ako nagre-reklamo sa mga referees. Siya (Aurin) yung pinapagalitan ko,” the TNT mentor told Spin.ph later. “But it is what it is.”
Suspension for incurring five technical fouls has been in the PBA rulebook for quite a while now, with Rain or Shine veteran big man Beau Belga and San Miguel’s Jericho Cruz as its most prominent casualties.
Belga sat out one game during the Season 46 Governors’ Cup for the same infraction, while Cruz’s case was worse as he served the suspension during Game 3 of Season 48 Commissioner’s Cup finals against Magnolia.
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