MANILA, Philippines — Tim Cone and Chot Reyes, two of the PBA’s most successful head coaches are clashing on opposing sidelines in the Governors’ Cup Finals for the first time since the 2012 Commissioner’s Cup.
The two well-respected PBA coaches have gone a long way back since Reyes served as one of Cone’s assistants with Alaska from 1989 to 1992.
When Reyes moved on to coach Purefoods starting in 1993, he went on to win two championships with the franchise, including a Finals victory over Cone in the 1994 Commissioner’s Cup that kicked off a rivalry with his former mentor.
Both coaches’ last memorable coaching duel in the Finals happened during the 2012 Commissioner’s Cup in an epic seven-game series. That championship duel saw Cone’s B-Meg capture the crown, thanks to import Denzel Bowles’ late foul shots in regulation that forced the extension period, en route to a 90-84 win over Reyes’ Talk ‘N Text.
Today, Cone earned another crack at adding up his already PBA record of 25 league championships after steering Ginebra back to the Finals, following Sunday’s series-clinching 102-99 win against San Miguel Beer in Game 6.
“We are really just happy that we are back in and going to pit against my good friend coach Chot again,” said Cone after the Gin Kings’ 4-2 series victory in the semifinals. “There’s always been that rivalry between Ginebra and Talk ‘N Text. Looking forward to mixing it up with my buddy.”
Admittedly, Cone said Reyes, a nine-time PBA champion coach, has done a marvelous job at transforming a TNT squad that’s in transition to becoming one of the league’s top defensive squads.
And the Tropang Giga indeed, proved that after subduing Rain or Shine, one of the tournament’s top offensive teams, 4-1 in their own semifinal series to reach the Finals.
“TNT is a greatly-coached team. Coach Chot knows me and I know him. We just got through working together at the Gilas team together,” Cone said, referring to their coaching gig in the national team where the American mentor served as Reyes’ assistant during last year’s Southeast Asian Games in Phnom Penh, Cambodia as well as the 2023 FIBA World Cup in Manila.
Cone said being close buddies, Reyes knows him very well, along with his coaching tendencies.
“I don’t think there’s gonna be a lot of secrets on how we do and how we’re gonna play,” said Cone. “What I do wanna say, coach Chot has done a tremendous job turning the (TNT) team to a defensive juggernaut, which reflects the personality of his best player in Rondae, (Hollis-Jefferson).
“He formed his team around Rondae and into a defensive team. That’s something we’ll really battle when we play.”
Cone and his eager-beaver Ginebra side will be looking to avenge its 2023 Governors’ Cup Finals loss to TNT, when the team was then being handled by team manager-turned-coach Jojo Lastimosa.
Reyes was loaned to Gilas back then as it was preparing for the FIBA World Cup in 2023.
The Tropang Giga won the title series, 4-2 with Filipino-American guard Mikey Williams playing a major role in backstopping Hollis-Jefferson. The mercurial guard went on to win the Finals Most Valuable Player.
However, the fourth overall pick of TNT in the 2020 PBA Draft, has been out of the team shortly thereafter due to a contract impasse, leaving the Tropang Giga with no choice but to find new pieces.
Now, TNT has a reliable backcourt gunner in Rey Nambatac, whom the team acquired in trade with Blackwater during the offseason, along with the blossoming of Kim Aurin to support veterans like Roger Pogoy, resident star Jayson Castro and Calvin Oftana.
An interesting subplot is the import matchup where Ginebra’s Justin Brownlee will be eyeing his own personal revenge against Hollis-Jefferson, who earned the Best Import award in the 2022-23 Governors’ Cup.
The do-it-all Brownlee will be eyeing his seventh PBA title after leading Ginebra back to the Finals.
