CHICAGO - In a stellar coaching career that had seen more battles than Napoleon, reaching the PBA Philippine Cup Finals has got to be the toughest hill coach Chot Reyes had to conquer.
This one required the exorcism of so many demons: An 0-3 start, a spate of injuries, and the ever-constant Mikey Williams saga.
After beating Rain or Shine in Game Six of their semifinals duel on Sunday night, closing that series at 4-2, the runway for TNT's grand slam bid has been cleared for takeoff.
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"Obviously, it's so satisfying," Reyes told me in a Monday morning interview, quickly adding that he found greater joy in how the adverse set of circumstances that hounded them galvanized the team.
"The guys came together to battle adversity and seeing the development and growth of Brandon (Ganuelas-Rosser), Kim (Aurin), Glenn (Khobuntin) and Henry (Galinato) and the continued acclimation of Jordan (Heading) into our scheme of things is more satisfying."
CAN TNT BEAT SAN MIG OR GINEBRA IN THE FINALS?
Asked if he has enough to beat either San Miguel or Ginebra in a best-of-seven championship joust that begins with Game One this Sunday, Reyes quickly replied without pause.
"Good question. With our current health situation, obviously that's doubtful," he surmised.
An eternal optimist, Reyes is suddenly engulfed in a crisis of confidence that is caused by the gimpy ankles of Calvin Oftana and Brian Heruela, Roger Pogoy's groin issue, and the nagging back spasms of Heading.
The Beermen and the Gin Kings are similarly banged up but unlike TNT, they aren't short of bodies.
"I've never looked at it that way but it's a fair assessment," Reyes said when I asked if Heading's emergence has finally brought TNT closure on the Mikey situation.
Reyes chose to talk only about the star he has now, not the one he lost in a bitter contractual dispute that lasted 25 months.
HEADING IS THE MAN.
"I was surprised he played extended minutes, but I know his capabilities," he said of Heading, who logged 31:36 in the closeout Game Six where the Fil-Aussie collected 29 points, four assists, three rebounds and two steals.
Once Heading and the other ailing Tropang 5G recover from their injuries, TNT will be formidable once Rondae Hollis-Jefferson joins the party, right?
Not so fast, says Teyes.
"Being strong on paper doesn't automatically translate to being strong on the hardwood."
Love him or hate him, the facts are indisputable, Reyes is a damn great coach who just dragged TNT to its third straight Finals appearance in the PBA's Season 49.
Set to expire at the end of this year, TNT had just extended his deal through the end of 2028, a fitting recognition to the best in the league among active coaches, percentage-wise.
"Wag na," he said when probed if he's now the highest-paid among his peers, surpassing Ginebra's Tim Cone who reportedly rakes well over P1 million a month at Ginebra.
Let's leave it at that but, man, if TNT hits the triple crown, Reyes sure would be one of heck of a return of investment.
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