Chot Reyes, TNT get another crack at rare Grand Slam
MANILA, Philippines – As much as TNT head coach Chot Reyes does not want to talk about it, the chatter of winning a Grand Slam will follow the Tropang Giga for the rest of the season.
TNT can accomplish a feat achieved by only 4 teams in PBA history after ruling the Commissioner’s Cup following a grueling best-of-seven finals against Barangay Ginebra that went the distance and culminated with an 87-83 overtime win on Friday, March 28.
Also the winner of the Governors’ Cup earlier this season, the Tropang Giga can complete a sweep of the 3 championships by topping the upcoming Philippine Cup.
“I guess it couldn’t be avoided at this point and I hope this is the last time you ask me about it. But I acknowledge that fact now, there’s going to be tremendous pressure on us, there’s going to be a huge target on our back,” said Reyes when asked about winning a Grand Slam.
“Eleven other teams are going to do their darn best to stop us.”
Crispa became the first squad in league history to complete a Grand Slam when it reigned supreme in the PBA’s second season in 1976, and became the only team to do so twice, repeating it in 1983.
San Miguel, coached by Norman Black, and Alaska, mentored by Tim Cone, followed suit in 1989 and 1996, respectively.
With Cone also calling the shots, San Mig Super Coffee was the last team to capture a Grand Slam in the 2013-14 season.
Reyes and TNT actually came oh-so-close to winning one when they topped the Philippine Cup and the Commissioner’s Cup of the 2010-11 season but fell a victory short, losing to Petron in Game 7 of the finals of the Governors’ Cup.
Pulling off the Grand Slam will be no easy feat, though, especially as the Tropang Giga play without three-time Best Import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, who led the squad to its last 3 championships.
Veteran guard Jayson Castro is also expected to miss action as he is recovering from a season-ending knee injury.
But Reyes has faith in his locals.
“As you can see, we don’t really have the best talent, we don’t have the deepest bench, but there’s something in our players — they just refuse to quit. That’s what’s we’re going to bring into this next conference,” said Reyes.
“You can bet that we’re going to come out and work even harder and try our best, not necessarily to capture the Grand Slam, but because there’s another tournament, another competition in front of us. That’s what we’re going to train for.” – Rappler.com