AN unhealthy season resulted to an early exit for head coach Chot Reyes and the TNT Tropang Giga in the Philippine Basketball Association Commissioner’s Cup.
“One of the main reasons is we’ve never been complete in this conference and it reflects on our record,” Reyes told BusinessMirror on Wednesday.
The last time TNT missed the playoffs was 21 years ago in the 2018 Governors’ Cup with a 4-7 win-loss record record.
“If you look back, we have never been completed since from the start up to the last part because of injuries,” Reyes said. “And the one week suspension of Mikey Williams plus the FIBA World Cup windows.”
TNT management suspended the prolific Williams for missing team practices while Reyes has to attend to is national coaching chores. He missed two games when Gilas Pilipinas played in two World Cup qualifying windows.
TNT got the boot last Saturday when the Tropang Giga lost to the San Miguel Beermen, 99-119, for a 4-8 win-loss record. They played the Beermen without injured players Jayson Castro, Kib Montalbo and JP Erram.
New acquisition Calvin Oftana, meanwhile, said it’s a big disappointment for him to miss the quarterfinals in a TNT uniform.
“On my part and for the TNT Tropang Giga organization, it’s a big failure and a lesson learned for us, so we have to move on and start again,” the 26-year-old former San Beda Red ace said.
“But my journey isn’t done yet, there’re a lot of things to be learned to become a complete player,” the 6-foot-5 Oftana of Danao City added. “I just have to listen to coach Chot [Reyes] and the coaching staff, keep practising and grinding. So next conference, we can get back and be the better team.”
Oftana joined TNT after a trade with NLEX and Blackwater that also involved Troy Rosario, Gab Banal and top pick Brandon Rosser-Ganuelas last September. He averaged 10.1 points and 5.5 rebounds in 12 games in the elimination round.
Williams’ suspension and Montalbo’s surgery (appendicitis), Castro, Erram and 6-foot-9 import Cameron Oliver suffered knee injuries, forcing TNT to call in 6-foot-4 Matt Mobley as their import.
Reyes said they are now preparing for the next conference—Governors’ Cup—even during the holidays.
“The main priority is to be healthy,” Reyes said. “We’re still looking for an import but Mobley will also be put in consideration.”
The Governors’ Cup starts on January 22 next year.