What’s on Chot’s mind

A lot has been written about Coca-Cola coach Vincent (Chot) Reyes–how he took the Tigers to the All-Filipino Cup title in their first Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) season, how he defied the odds in outdueling Alaska coach Tim Cone in the Finals despite the absence of injured stars Johnny Abarrientos and Jeffrey Cariaso, and how he motivated his decimated cast to overachieve.

Reyes, 39, began his coaching career on the Ateneo juniors bench in the Philippine Athletic Youth Association in 1982. Since then, he has ventured into the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP), the Philippine Basketball League, the PBA, the Metropolitan Basketball Association, and back to the PBA.

To get into Reyes’ mind, The Star sought him out for an exclusive interview of "20 questions."

Listen to what the man said.

The Star: Did you ever think, in your wildest dreams, that Coca-Cola would win a PBA championship this year?

Reyes: Yes and no. Yes, because it was an objective from the start. No, because, realistically, it didn’t seem possible, considering the other teams.

S: If Alaska forced a Game 5, would you have played Cariaso and which team would’ve won?

R: Jeffrey would’ve definitely played. He was a hairline away from playing in the third quarter in Game 4 when Alaska got to within two, Ato (Morano) was on the bench in foul trouble, and Leo (Avenido) had just turned the ball over. He was ready. But then, we made a stop and shot six straight points. In a Game 5, I felt we still had a good chance to win but there would’ve been a big possibility for Alaska to win.

S: What off-basketball, psychological, Phil Jackson-type tactics did you use to motivate your players during the Finals?

R: Jackson shows a lot of movies, like ‘The Wizard of Oz,’ to motivate his players. I do, too. Like we watched a Keanu Reeves movie, ‘Hardball,’ about an overachieving baseball team. I also get the guys to read a lot of books, not related to basketball, that talk about leadership and the value of teamwork, like John Maxwell’s ‘The Leader in You.’ I’ve passed around this book entitled ‘Who Moved My Cheese?’ which deals with change and going with the flow. The stuff on change has helped Poch (Juinio) who’s had to shift from being a low-post center to a three-point shooting center with ball movement. It’s all about accepting change when necessary.

S: What incentives were promised to the team for the Finals?

R: We were promised an extra cash incentive of P5 Million to be divided equally among the players. And the pot included shares for the utility and support staff.

S: What is your position in the coming PBA draft and what kind of players are you looking for?

R: We’re picking ninth. We’re looking for a quick, agile big man, like a Romel Adducul, but we don’t know who’ll be available by the time we pick. We’ll just go for the best available talent when it’s our turn to draft.

S: What is the status of the Asian Basketball Academy (ABA)?

R: Right now, it’s on hold. I’ve organized coachcom.inc which does things that the ABA started. It’s into personal and business consulting aside from basketball-related activities.

S: In your coaching career, what was your most memorable season?

R: This is my 20th year as a coach. Winning the All-Filipino title for Coca-Cola has to be up there. I’ll also always remember 1985 when I coached the Ateneo juniors to a sweep of the UAAP title with players like Olsen Racela and Danny Francisco and 1993 when I won my first PBA title for Purefoods.

S: What three things frustrate you in basketball?

R: When I’m not able to get the best from my players. When I’m not able to prepare as completely for a game as I want to. And when I see gifted players throw away their careers.

S: You were quite volatile as a coach once. What has mellowed you?

R: Maturing naturally which aging brings, I suppose. But also, my coaching exposure through the years. In the past, the coaching icons were the fiery types like Bobby Knight and Pat Riley. Lately, it’s been the thinking types like Jackson and Mike Krzyzewski. I’ve been fortunate to be exposed first hand to the best coaches. Every year, I try to go to the US and check out the latest coaching trends and technology. In 1999, I spent a week at the Los Angeles Lakers camp, watching Jackson and Tex Winterwork–I was out of coaching then so that prepared me for the next phase of my career.

S: What three things motivate you in basketball?

R: My passion for coaching and teaching. The transition from basketball to business and life consulting. That’s why I’m taking up my MBA. Second, the opportunity to teach the value of teamwork. Third, the general esprit de corps, the camaraderie, of being with the guys, with the team–at practice, smelling the liniment in the dugout, feeling the pressure and tension in a game.

S: What role does your family play in your coaching career?

R: A big role. My wife Cherry is our biggest cheerleader. My son Joshua–who’s 20–studies at Ateneo de Naga and when he can, works with us as a practice player. My other children–Moses who’s 15, Isiah who’s 11 and Rebekah who’s 7–they were intimately involved in this championship which made it so special because we were all in it together as a family.

S: Was it painful that in winning the All-Filipino title, you did it at the expense of your good friend Tim?

R: Yes and no. Yes, of course, because it came at the expense of not only Tim but also my brother Jun and Jojo (Lastimosa). No, because we’d rather play each other in the Finals than somebody else. At least, we’re all in the Finals together. Then bahala na, who wins.

S: What makes Coca-Cola management different from the management of other teams you’ve coached?

R: Management support was a big factor in our victory. At Coca-Cola, we’re lucky that management understands the game–Mr. Genju Lapez (president), Attorney (Jing) Mesias, (team manager) JB (Baylon), and Mr. (Molet) Puno know what it takes to compete at a high level but they never interfere in running the team. They gave us a free hand. We submitted our plans and vision and they agreed. The situation is similar to Purefoods when I started as a PBA head coach in 1993.

S: Are you a religious person?

R: Yes, in my own way. Last Dec. 16 was our wedding anniversary and it was the first day of the Misa de Gallo which I attended for nine straight days. I would wake up for the 4:30 a.m. Mass at Xavierville then jog. Sometimes, Cherry went to Mass with me, sometimes, our children.

S: What led to your passion for basketball?

R: My father Gilbert. The Reyes family has always been big on basketball. I grew up with the MICAA and UAAP on TV. When I was in prep in 1969, I remember watching Ateneo versus La Salle in the coliseum-players like Joy Cleofas and Chito Afable. My grandfather Lolo Narding (Reyes) who died in 1987 was also a big influence. He also influenced our passion for golf.

S: When Abarrientos went down, did you think you could still win the title?

R: Yes. The opportunity presented itself. I felt Alaska might relax. The pressure was lifted off us. We had nothing to lose. All we had to do was play our best. When we lost Game 1, I exploded in the dugout–the first time in the entire conference. I punched the wall and kicked a table–not because we lost but to set up the guys for the next game. I told the guys that injuries couldn’t be an excuse for us to lose, that the series was far from over. I wanted to impress in the players’ minds that we weren’t giving up, that if we lose, it was because Alaska outplayed us, not because of our injuries. Johnny showed up at practice the day before Game 4, wearing a cap and with his right eye all red. He came in quietly–we stopped our practice and clapped. He just told us one thing–for us to stay solid. (Note: Abarrientos underwent facial plating surgery last night at St. Luke’s Hospital.)

S: What three factors decided the Finals?

R: Hunger, which team wanted it more. The David versus Goliath angle, it gave us something to prove. Finally, the support from management, fans, and our families. Before Game 1, management treated us to dinner and said all they wanted was for us to play our best. No pressure, just play our best.

S: Which Coca-Cola players’ contracts are expiring and who will be rehired?

R: Jeffrey, Rafi (Reavis), Estong (Ballesteros), and Ato will be renewed for sure. There are other guys with expiring contracts, like Cris (Bolado), Jovy (Sese) and Jason (Misolas)–we’ll review their situation after the draft.

S: Who is the real leader of the team–Abarrientos, Rudy Hatfield, Cariaso, or Freddie Abuda–and is there a rivalry among them to be the leader?

R: No rivalry at all. There is no chemistry or relationship problem. We thrive in togetherness. Freddie is our acknowledged and accepted spiritual leader. He best typifies our team–he’s quiet, he works hard, he’s unselfish and intelligent. He doesn’t need attention. In our team, when a player does something spectacular in a game, you don’t see him raising his arms or acting up–he just gets back down on defense. We win the right way. We don’t trash talk, we don’t look down on our opponents.

S: What lies ahead for you?

R: Hopefully, next year, a title to defend–the first conference is the All-Filipino, I understand. In the long-term, for us to continue growing, getting better. I’m here for the love of the game, for the love of the players. All this fuss about my contract, I leave completely up to management. When I asked to be taken out of consideration as PBA Commissioner, there was no promise from management whatsoever on a new contract. I couldn’t ask more from management–they’ve given me a lot of joy and satisfaction. I understand the nature of the job and I will do what I’m asked to do, whatever. I’m happy with management and the players–I hope we can continue this relationship.