Chot on PBA competition nowadays: 'Hindi humirap, sobrang hirap'
Source: The Manila times
Author: Richard Dy
MANILA, Philippines: TNT coach Chot Reyes shared that the Tropang Giga's ongoing struggles in PBA Philippine Cup is both "internal" and "external."
For one, the fiery TNT mentor pointed that gone are the days when the Tropang Giga are considered a "mighty team."
"I've said this before, all of the teams have really upgraded. TNT, I don't think we are no longer (the) mighty TNT. The sooner we accept that fact, the better it's going to be good for us," Reyes explained, shortly after TNT scored a 92-90 escape act against sister team Meralco on Sunday.
While the Tropang Giga have been a dominant franchise for many, many years, winning nine championships and reaching the Finals 21 times since joining the league in the 1990s, Reyes stressed that this time around, they can't "just simply show up" and expect to win.
"We can't just win on talent, or just by showing up. We really need to outwork and outhustle every team we play," he said. "Our record is the way it is."
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Reyes pointed out that Blackwater and NorthPort, two PBA franchises that have yet to win a league title, are two prime examples of teams that have upgraded its roster this season.
And the evidence is right there as seen in TNT's 87-76 loss to Blackwater, and NorthPort's 112-96 rout of Reyes' squad just last Friday.
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"Clearly, Blackwater and NorthPort just outworked us. A lot can be said about the energy and effort of the players but it starts with the coach," he added.
Reyes said he's been preaching all conference long the importance of out working their opponents, or simply putting the effort on the floor.
Reyes noted that they left much to be desired in their blowout losses to the Bossing and the Batang Pier.
But the effort they gave against the San Miguel Beermen, before dropping a narrow 91-89 decision, was something he liked to see with greater consistency.
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Still, Reyes believes teams all over the league have made significant roster retooling, thus, winning a game this conference got lot, lot tougher.
"Hindi mas humirap, sobrang hirap," Reyes said in Tagalog, in putting a strong emphasis on the degree of difficulty to win games in the all-Filipino conference.
"Take a look, we analyzed the lineup of NortPort. It's very deep. Just look at their bigs, and
their wings are both 6-5 (in) Arvin (Tolentino) and Will Navarro.
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(Joshua) Munzon is maybe 6-4 as guard and they have athletic bigs," stressed Reyes.
Add to that, he said, that San Miguel's roster is 12-man deep, noting that veteran forward Vic Manuel is the "12th man" in that stacked roster.
"San Miguel, their 12th man is a guy named Vic Manuel. hHow deep is a that team? They don't even need the 13th and 14th player," he said.