The 2024 PBA Governors’ Cup Finals is more than just a faceoff for the title in the ongoing import-laced conference.
It will also feature the greatness of two of the most decorated mentors in Asia’s first professional league—TNT’s Chot Reyes and Barangay Ginebra’s Tim Cone.
Thus, in addition to the highly anticipated battle between always-spectacular imports Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and Justin Brownlee, the TNT-Ginebra series will be a bout between two of the best minds in Philippine basketball.
Reyes and Cone go way back. Reyes was Cone’s assistant during the latter’s Alaska head coaching days, and the winningest PBA coach was also the TNT shot-caller’s assistant on the Gilas Pilipinas national team.
However, the coaches do not agree that the Finals matchup will be about them, asserting that the players will define the series.
“Just very, very happy to be here, playing against a tough team and excellent coach. I think, in the end, magkakatalo ‘yan sa how players execute and the team that’s able to exert their own style and their will on the basketball court,” Reyes said during the press conference for the PBA Finals on Thursday in Taguig City.
“It’s not gonna come down to me and Chot. It’s gonna come down to Rondae and Justin and players around them,” Cone said. “They are going to the one who will decide the series. And that’s how it should be.”
Cone also claimed that he “learned more” from his longtime pal.
“I’ve learned more from him [Chot Reyes] than he learned from me, that’s for sure,” said Cone.
“I learned a lot especially from the offensive side,” he added. “I think the familiarity will play in the series at some point just ’cause he knows what I like to do and I learned what he likes to do.”
Seeing Reyes and Cone go head-to-head in the Finals would be a “blessing,” said Ginebra stalwart LA Tenorio.
“I have the opportunity to witness the greatness of, magsimula tayo sa coaches—coach Chot and coach Tim. Coach Chot is a great coach, matagal din kaming nagsama sa national team and of course coach Tim. To witness that, sobrang blessed ako,” Tenorio said.
Moreover, the best-of-seven Finals will be a tiebreaker for both Reyes and Cone, as they are 3-3 in Finals matchups.
Finals action starts Sunday, October 27, at the Ynares Center in Antipolo. Tip-off is at 7:30 p.m.
Proceeds of the Sunday game will be donated for the benefit of victims of severe tropical storm Kristine.
