Coach Chot Reyes will be taking a much-needed break from basketball.
The six-time PBA Coach of the Year informed reporters on Wednesday afternoon that Jojo Lastimosa will handle TNT for at least the first month of their campaign in the 2023-24 PBA Commissioner’s Cup.
Reyes, who has been fully dedicated to Gilas Pilipinas for the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 for the past eight months, had assumed a managerial role with the MVP Group’s flagship team, while Lastimosa served as both the team’s head coach and team manager.
Even Reyes himself does not know when he will return to TNT.
“If Coach Jojo is doing well, why would I interfere with their momentum, right?” Reyes said.
Lastimosa led TNT to a six-game victory over Ginebra to capture the Governors’ Cup title last season.
Rondae Hollis-Jefferson will be returning to TNT for this conference.
However, it’s not just the PBA that Lastimosa will be guiding TNT in, as the 2023-24 EASL season will also commence next month.
TNT’s second import will be former Converge import Quincey Miller.
The Tropang Giga are grouped with Anyang JungKwanJang, Taipei Fubon, and Chiba in the EASL.