MANILA, Philippines - Nang maibaon sa 0-2 at 2-3 sa kanilang championship series, ang gusto lamang ni head coach Chot Reyes at ng Talk ‘N Text ay maipuwersa ang Game 7 kontra kay mentor Tim Cone at sa Alaska.
Makaraang ipagkait kay Cone ang all-time record na ika-602 panalo nito na lalagpas sa 601 ni legendary coach Virgilio “Baby” Dalupan at ang pang 13th title ng Aces sa Game 6 via 99-94 win noong Linggo, inangkin naman ng Tropang Texters ang Game 7 mula sa 93-89 tagumpay para ganap nang sikwatin ang 2008-2009 PBA Philippine Cup kamakalawa ng gabi.
“All we wanted when were down 0-2 was to get to a Game 7,” ani Reyes sa Talk ‘N Text, ibinulsa ang Game 3 (92-73), Game 4 (100-98) at Game 6 (99-94), habang kinuha naman ng Alaska ang Game 1 (102-95), Game 2 (100-91) at Game 5 (95-93). “Even when we were down 2-3, still our desire never change. All we wanted is to get to a Game 7, and my prayers were answered and got to Game 7.”
Bukod sa pagbibigay sa Tropang Texters ng ikalawang PBA crown nito matapos noong 2003 mula sa paggiya ni Joel Banal, ngayon ay assistant ni Cone sa Aces, napasakamay rin ni Reyes ang kanyang pang limang titulo makaraan ang tig-dalawa sa Purefoods at CocaCola.
Bago ito, halos isuko na ni Reyes ang kanyang coaching career nang ihatid sa mababang ninth-place finish ang RP Team sa 2007 FIBA-Asia Men’s Championships sa Tukoshima, Japan.
Ang nasabing torneo, pinagharian ng Iran ni Serbian coach Rajko Toroman na ngayon ay project director ng Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP), ang siyang qualifying tournament para sa 29th Olympic Games sa Beijing, China noong Agosto ng 2008.
“Back then I wanted to take a vacation from coaching, I only found myself back here,” litanya ni Reyes. “For me this is really a validation that I made the right decision to continue. It reinforced my love for the game of basketball and erased somewhat the Tokushima debacle.”
Si Reyes ang naging kauna-unahang coach sa kasaysayan ng PBA na nagwagi ng All-Filipino Cup sa tatlong magkaka-ibang tropa. Ito ay ang Purefoods (1993), CocaCola (2002) at Talk ‘N Text (2009).
“I formulated a three-year program where we would make the finals after one year,” ani Reyes, kinuha ni team owner Manny V. Pangilinan bilang kapalit ni Derrick Pumaren noong 2008. “I was surprised when we made the finals after just my first year.”
Sa kabila ng matinding babala ni Time Cone kay Mac Cardona, tinanghal na Finals MVP, matapos ang 94-99 kabiguan ng Alaska sa Game 6, nanatili pa rin ang pagkakaibigan nina Cone at Reyes.
“It was a hell of a series from a good friend Tim, from a class organization like Alaska. At last for today, Talk ’N Text was the better team. We worked long and hard, I think tonight we deserve it,” sabi ni Reyes, naging assistant ni Cone sa Alaska at sa Centennial Team na nag-uwi ng bronze medal sa 1998 Bangkok, Asian Game sa Thailand.
“This championship is a perfect example of how a great organization, great company and a great group of players can blend together to win a championship,” dagdag ni Reyes. (Russell Cadayona)