Chot Reyes has been involved in countless tactical battles against some of basketball’s brightest minds throughout his extensive coaching career on the international stage.
But on Tuesday night in the PBA Season 50 Governors’ Cup, the former Gilas Pilipinas mentor gets what could be one of his proudest moments yet, as he coaches against Jimmy Alapag for the first time when TNT takes on NLEX.
Tip-off is at 7:30 PM, with the highly anticipated all-MVP coaching duel drawing plenty of attention. Alapag, nicknamed “Mighty Mouse,” will be facing the franchise he helped build into a powerhouse, leading TNT to six PBA championships during his decorated playing career.
Alapag previously admitted that facing his former team would be a nostalgic experience. For Reyes, however, the honor lies in standing on the opposite sideline from someone with whom he shared so much success, both in the PBA and with the Gilas Pilipinas program.
“It will be an honor coaching against a legitimate NBA coach,” said the league’s only seven-time Coach of the Year. “It will be an honor.”
The 62-year-old, however, hopes his Tropang 5G will prove worthy of sharing the court with the Road Warriors.
As it stands, Alapag and NLEX are the only unbeaten teams in the league, sitting atop Group A with a perfect 5-0 record. Their latest victory was a commanding 119-107 rout of the struggling Converge FiberXers last Saturday.
TNT, the defending Governors’ Cup champion, owns a 3-2 record and is riding a modest two-game winning streak. The Tropang 5G defeated Converge before grinding out a 93-89 overtime victory over San Miguel Beer last Saturday.
Still, Reyes remains far from satisfied with his team’s current standing. Despite welcoming back import Rahlir Hollis-Jefferson, TNT continues to deal with injuries, with Roger Pogoy becoming the latest casualty after suffering a minor MCL sprain.
“Not only are they unbeaten, but they are playing at a very high level,” Reyes said. “Higher than any other team in the league, to be very honest with you. A great job Coach Jimmy is doing there. I’m so proud of the job that he’s doing.
“It’s going to be a huge challenge for us. I hope we can be deserving of going on the same floor with them, to compete against them, especially with all our injuries,” he added. “This is going to be a really, really big mountain for us.”
According to Casino Plus Sportsbook, NLEX enters the game as a +5.0 underdog against TNT, while the over/under is set at 206.5.
Bets can be placed at: https://www.casinoplus.com.ph/home/inGame?name=basketball&title=SportBet.
Meanwhile, Titan Ultra and guest team Macau square off at 5:15 PM in what promises to be another close matchup following their first meeting.
The Macau Giant Pandas escaped with a 132-126 victory in their July 25 encounter, thanks largely to Ramon Cao, who erupted for 28 points and 13 rebounds. The standout forward scored 11 of his team’s final 13 points to carry the Giant Pandas to their breakthrough win.
Macau has since added another victory to improve to 2-4, escaping Terrafirma, 96-92, last Wednesday. De’Vondre Perry, Kobey Lam, and Damian Chongqui delivered in the clutch as the visitors erased a 15-point deficit.
The Giant Pandas now have an opportunity to win three straight games, a feat that would move them closer to fourth-running Converge, which currently owns a 3-3 record.
Titan Ultra, meanwhile, is simply looking to get back on the winning track. After stunning TNT last July 22 in Antipolo, the Giant Risers have dropped two straight games and now sit at the bottom of Group A with a 1-5 record.
