TNT has every right to celebrate, especially after taking care of business on Sunday evening with an 83-76 victory over the Magnolia Hotshots.
The Tropang Giga have now stretched their unbeaten run to six. They remain atop the 2021 Honda PBA Philippine Cup standings, virtually sealing a quarterfinal spot as well.
Head coach Chot Reyes, however, is in no mood to do just that.
“It’s very important that we stay on an even keel,” the outspoken mentor said moments after the match at the DHVSU Gym in Bacolor.
This is actually Reyes’ best start ever, and with the same franchise he steered to four championships in the past.
Still, none of that matters for the only five-time Coach of the Year. Instead, their primary goal is to keep on getting better as a unit.
“We’re a work in progress,” he said. “We’re not thinking of the record, not thinking of anything else except to get better.”
But in Sunday’s game, Reyes liked what he saw from his wards, especially the hustle they showed against a scrappy Hotshots team.
That was evident with how almost each Texter dove for loose balls especially in the fourth. They allo made sure that their foes won’t get any easy possession.
“Definitely, we track our 50-50 balls. And unfortunately, I don’t know what it cost us because Kelly tweaked his ankle, and so did Glenn Khobuntin.
“But you know, that’s the price that we have to pay for really working, and working hard,” said Reyes.
“Our focus for this game became very simple. Just make sure that we outwork them, and they do not outwork us,” he added.
But then again, as impressive as their start has been, Reyes makes it a point to keep his charges level-headed.
“Like I said, we’re a work in progress,” he said.
“And that’s how I keep them on an even keel, to let them know that it’s very early in the season, and we continue to look for ways to keep getting better.”
