Reyes learns from Pistons coach

National coach Chot Reyes said yesterday the highlight of his recent two-week US trip was learning from Detroit Pistons coach Larry Brown.

Reyes attended the National Association of Basketball Coaches convention in St. Louis, Missouri, and signed up for eight clinics in four days then watched the practices of the NCAA Division I Final Four teams before proceeding to Detroit last April 4.

Reyes’ visit to the Pistons camp was arranged by Brown’s executive assistant Marivic Lardizabal, a Filipina.

"It was awesome," said Reyes. "Aside from our one-on-one, coach Brown asked me to join all their coaches’ pre-practice meetings and video breakdowns, pre-game meeting with (Pistons president of basketball operations) Joe Dumars and most of all, invited me into their lockerroom for actual pre-game, halftime and post-game huddles with the team. I learned so much."

Reyes said inviting an "outsider" into the lockerroom is not common practice–even among Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) teams–but with Lardizabal’s help, he managed to get Brown’s clearance.

"When I was first introduced to coach Brown, he looked at me from head to foot," recalled Reyes. "Then, Marivic arranged our one-on-one meeting. That broke the ice."

Reyes said Brown told him to remember three things in coaching an international basketball game–transition defense, rebounding and staying in front of your man.

"Coach Brown saw how important those three things were when he coached the US at the last Olympics," continued Reyes. "The international game revolves around the drive and kick-out play so it’s crucial to always stay in front of your man. He asked me what I thought of playing zone. I explained we play zone so we know how to attack it. Coach Brown intimated he should’ve done that in Athens. It was obvious the US team didn’t know how to attack the zone. Coach Brown isn’t much of a zone believer."

Reyes said he asked Brown what he thought of China as a basketball power.

"Coach Brown described China as the worst ball-handling team in the Olympics," related Reyes. "To beat China, he told me you’ve got to take out Yao Ming much like Argentina took out Tim Duncan in Athens. That’s not easy to do."

Reyes said Brown and his wife Shelly plan to visit Manila when their schedule permits.

"Coach Brown offered to arrange scrimmages for our national team with the Pistons during the offseason," said Reyes. "I mentioned that we might play in the Las Vegas Pro-Am Summer League in July so we could play the Pistons before or after. The Las Vegas league is great competition and China sometimes shows up to play. Coach Brown told me maybe the Pistons could learn a thing or two from us if we scrimmage."

What impressed Reyes was the Pistons dedication to defense.

"Defense is what makes the Pistons tick," said Reyes. "In their pre-game practice, all they work on is defense. In the NBA playoffs, Miami is the only East team in the way of Detroit going back to the Finals."

Reyes said he also met some of the Pistons players like guard Chauncey Billups.

"Billups’ daughter was doing research on Philippine culture for a school project so I gave her some Philippine peso bills which she pasted on a paper to show her class," said Reyes.

Another Pistons player who caught Reyes’ attention was center Ben Wallace.

"Wallace is always first at practice and last to leave, taking extra shots to improve his stroke," noticed Reyes.

Reyes said he also learned something new from Brown–the point zone where the formation starts at 1-3-3 and slides to 2-3.

Brown invited Reyes to sit in while he spoke to the Pistons in the lockerroom before a game against the Washington Wizards last April 6. Reyes also joined Brown in the dugout at halftime and after the contest which Detroit won, 105-93.

"The best thing about the Pistons visit was the opportunity to observe up close how coach Brown works with his staff, how they break down game film, how they decide how to defend the opponent’s favorite sets, the exchange of ideas, the process behind game-time decisions," said Reyes.

"I saw a lot of things they do which I think we can incorporate into our practice design right away. But the most impressive thing about coach Brown was his willingness to listen and share his time with a first-time acquaintance. Like I said in a note in the PBA’s first 25 Years book I gave him, he embodies everything we love about coaching–the passion, dedication, teaching–truly an inspiration to me and a lot of younger coaches. I firmly believe that to improve his team, a leader has to improve himself first. This experience of a lifetime certainly contributes to my continued growth as a person and basketball coach."

Reyes returned home with 6-5 Fil-Am Kelly Williams who played at Oakland University in Rochester, Michigan. Williams’ mother Andrea Mata is from Cebu. He is now training with the Cebuana Lhuillier squad and hopes to apply for the PBA draft next year.