No trending for Chot

There’s a sequential trend in the way coaches Chot Reyes and Tim Cone have historically fared in six PBA Finals. Here’s how it’s gone down: First, Reyes (Purefoods) over Cone (Alaska), 1994 Commissioner’s Cup. Second, Cone (Alaska) over Reyes (Purefoods), 1996 All-Filipino Cup. Third, Reyes (Coca Cola) over Cone (Alaska), 2002 All-Filipino Cup. Fourth, Cone (Alaska) over Reyes (Coca Cola), 2003 Invitational Championships. Fifth, Reyes (TNT) over Cone (Alaska), 2008-09 Philippine Cup. Sixth, Cone (B-Meg) over Reyes (TNT), 2012 Commissioner’s Cup.

If the trend holds, it will be Reyes’ turn to beat Cone in the Governors’ Cup Finals which begin at the Ynares Center, Antipolo, tonight. Reyes, however, brushed off the trend and wouldn’t allow it to bring a false sense of security to the Tropa. “I don’t believe in trends and I don’t think of history,” he said. “What I’m concerned about is now, how we’ll try to win the championship.”

It’s been a while since Reyes has enjoyed a victory ride in the PBA. His last title came in the 2021 Philippine Cup where TNT defeated Magnolia, 4-1, in the Last Dance. Cone’s last championship was in the 2022-23 Commissioner’s Cup where Ginebra downed Bay Area in Game Seven of the Finals before a record crowd of 54,598 at the Philippine Arena.

Last season, neither Ginebra nor TNT made it to the Finals of the two conferences so both coaches are hungry to go all the way. TNT’s last title was in the 2023 Governors’ Cup where the Tropa disposed of Ginebra in six Finals games. Team manager Jojo Lastimosa was TNT’s interim coach while Cone held the reins for Ginebra. So, this conference, TNT is the defending Governors’ Cup champion and Rondae Hollis-Jefferson the defending Best Import awardee.

Reyes said Cone agreed that even as there’s talk of their rivalry, the Finals won’t be decided by the coaches. It’ll be up to the players, how they execute, how Hollis-Jefferson and Justin Brownlee will play to their potential. Reyes said he was Cone’s assistant not only at Alaska but also with the Centennial team in 1998. He described Cone as his mentor. Cone, in turn, was Reyes’ assistant with Gilas at the SEA Games and FIBA World Cup last year. So they’ve taken turns caddying for each other and it makes the coming Finals even more interesting, if not intriguing.