Philippines - Chot takes the hot seat
Vincent "Chot" Reyes, the flamboyant, eloquent former national coach, is the new man at the helm of Talk ‘N Text, a team that has only one PBA championship since joining the league in 1996. Reyes’ appointment was formally announced yesterday by Talk N’ Text, just weeks after the Phone Pals were eliminated in the ongoing PBA Smart-Philippine Cup.
From www.tempo.com.ph
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Vincent "Chot" Reyes, the flamboyant, eloquent former national coach, is the new man at the helm of Talk ‘N Text, a team that has only one PBA championship since joining the league in 1996.
Reyes’ appointment was formally announced yesterday by Talk N’ Text, just weeks after the Phone Pals were eliminated in the ongoing PBA Smart-Philippine Cup.
Reyes, who has four PBA titles under his belt, succeeds Frederick Pumaren whose contract ends on Feb. 29.
Talk ’N Text, through team governor Ricky Vargas, thanked Pumaren "for the work and contribution he has made to the team during the term of his engagement."
"Coach Deric is the epitome of a real professional and a gentleman," Vargas said in his statement. "We truly regret to have parted ways for he is a good man. We all wish him the best of luck."
Pumaren has come under fire for failing to give the Phone Pals a championship despite a star-studded lineup.
Reyes, who handled the national team that placed ninth in the FIBA-Asia championship last year, is expected to bring the kind of basketball he is known for: Aggressive, tireless running game and defense.
A protege of Alaska coach Tim Cone, the 44-year-old Reyes carved a name for himself with two titles each for Purefoods and Coca-Cola. He also guided Sta. Lucia Realty and San Miguel Beer to runner-up finishes in the Philippine Cup.
Vargas said that Reyes "shares in the franchise vision of combining a high performance culture with the team’s strong talent base."
"We all look forward to working with coach Chot in the coming PBA seasons," team manager Frankie Lim said.
In a text message, Reyes said he’s excited to handle the Phone Pals.
"I’m looking forward to working and winning with a first class organization like TNT," Reyes said.
Reyes will be reunited with Jimmy Alapag and Ren-Ren Ritualo, his former players in the national team.
The former Ateneo guard is Talk ‘N Text’s seventh coach in 12 years, joining the likes of Norman Black, Eric Altamirano, Louie Alas, American coaches Bill Bayno and Paul Woolpert and Joel Banal, who guided the team to its first and only PBA title during the 2003 All-Filipino Cup.
The details of Reyes’ contract were unavailable, but sources said the compensation offers a generous incentive scheme.
"Chot wants his team to be result-oriented. He demands excellence from his overfed players," said the source close to Reyes.
The Pals were to officially present Reyes in a press conference at Pangilinan’s PLDT Office in Makati City.
Calls and text messages to Pumaren were not answered.
In 2006, Pumaren replaced Banal, who is now a member of Tim Cone’s coaching staff with Alaska. He came one win away from giving the Phone Pals the Fiesta Cup title last season, but was denied by the Alaska Aces.
Talk ‘N Text was one of the pre-tournament favorites with a roster that includes national players Paul Asi Taulava, Alapag and Ren-Ren Ritualo, Fiesta Cup Best Player of the Conference Mark Cardona, Yancy De Ocampo, Jay Washington and Harvey Carey.
Taulava, however, was traded in the middle of the elimination to Coca-Cola for Ali Peek and a first round pick in this year’s Rookie Draft.
Talk ’N Text finished the elimination with an even 9-9 win-loss card, its bid for an outright quarterfinal seat dashed by Taulava and Coke.
Adding insult to injury, Taulava and another former TNT player Mark Telan led the Tigers to victory against the Pals in the wildcard playoff.