Chot Reyes needs the rest of the TNT Tropang Giga's local crew to step up big-time to fill in the void left by veteran Jayson Castro.
In the PBA Season 49 Governors' Cup, TNT subdued Ginebra in six games of the Finals to raise the trophy.
This time around, after forging a rematch in the championship stage with the Gin Kings in the Commissioner's Cup, Tropang Giga coach Chot Reyes admitted it would not be easy to score a repeat.
That’s because they are coming in without main man Jayson Castro. And they will be facing a Ginebra side that is slowly getting its complete lineup back.
TNT Tropang Giga head coach Chot Reyes, alongside Jayson Castro, react in Game 2 of their PBA Season 49 Commissioner's Cup semifinals last Feb. 28. | Photo (c) RM Chua/One Sports
Reyes said the absence of Castro, who won the Finals Most Valuable Player award in their successful conquest last conference, will definitely be felt.
“Very, very difficult. Like I said, Jayson is much more than just the skills he brings to the table,” said Reyes.
“It’s a lot of other things: leadership, maturity, reading the game. In a Finals, those are very very important. Those are critical elements.”
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Before going down with a patellar tendon tear, Castro has been instrumental in the Tropang Giga's 2-0 start in their best-of-seven semifinals against Rain or Shine. In fact, he was even hailed Player of the Week for his stellar showing.
But now that Castro is out for at least a year, Reyes will have to rely on the other aces on his deck like Rey Nambatac, who was superb in the last two games of the penultimate stage.
“We just have to not worry about who’s here and fight with what we have right now. We have no choice but to go out there, and give it our best. We’ll just see what happens,” said Reyes.
TNT and Ginebra start their Last Dance on Friday, March 14, at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.