TNT Tropang 5G coach Chot Reyes isn’t one to mince words. Neither is he the type to rein in his emotions.
Both were on display at the end of the first half of TNT’s 89-88 victory over the Magnolia Hotshots in the 2024–25 PBA Philippine Cup playoffs, when Reyes showed his displeasure over the officiating. Usually chill and measured, Reyes gave the officials a piece of his mind, kicked a chair, and gave the officials a piece of his mind—again.
Reyes was so heated, in fact, that as he was starting to walk towards the tunnel, he strutted back onto the court and—yes!—gave the officials a piece of his mind.
Those unfamiliar with Reyes might think the multi-titled tactician lost it at that very moment.
Those familiar with Reyes know all too well not too read much into his latest outburst. In fact, they know it’s just Reyes doing what pretty much all coaches do: Voice displeasure over terrible officiating.
Chot Reyes Loses His Cool, Not His Composure
Chot Reyes, historically, loses his cool from time to time. But Reyes losing cool doesn’t mean he loses his composure, too, at least not now. Not after he has accumulated decades of experience coaching in the big league.
“Sometimes, you have to do those things [confront the referees] to fire up not only the players but also to let the officials know how displeased we were with several non-calls,” Reyes told reporters after TNT’s escape act against Magnolia. “But I’ve been around long enough to know not to lose my composure.”
That ability to not lose composure even when heated is certainly a skill, one honed through years and years of coaching in the PBA—and in the biggest of games no less. Charge it to experience, as the saying goes.
“Sa tagal ko ba naman dito sa PBA, I know I can have outbursts of emotion. What I’ve learned over the years is to coach through that and to make sure that my thinking and my thought process are still very clear. I just wanted to really make a point in that moment,” Reyes emphasized.
Based on the result of TNT’s squeaker over Magnolia, Chot Reyes really didn’t lose composure. In fact, he was so composed down the stretch that he coached the Tropa to victory.
So, best believe Chot Reyes is cooking up an encore again Magnolia.
He might even lose his cool again—but certainly not his composure.
