TNT opted to focus on what it can control during its win against Terrafirma on Saturday, Nov. 5, but head coach Chot Reyes is hoping to put the drama revolving around suspended guard Mikey Williams behind.
The high-scoring Fil-American missed the last two games of the Tropang Giga following a management-imposed suspension due to his repeated absences to the team practices.
Reyes is hopeful that his charges have finally patched things up after Williams and the rest of TNT players had their lunch together over the week.
“His suspension is for one week so it’s really going to be up to team manager Jojo Lastimosa but as far as I know it's one week. I know they had lunch together and spoke to his teammates so I hope that’s resolved,” said Reyes.
According to Lastimosa, Williams had been missing practices with the team without notice and it finally reached the boiling point when the TNT guard missed another practice a day after the team’s embarrassing 130-117 defeat at the hands of Converge and before its crucial encounter against Phoenix.
The Tropang Giga likewise dropped their game against the Fuel Masters, 91-88, adding to the team woes.
“Like I said, those were things that were beyond our control coming into this ball game and we are just worried about the players who were in this game,” said Reyes after the Tropang Giga’s 121-90 victory over the Terrafirma Dyip which ended their two-game slide.
Reyes said Williams doesn’t have to apologize to him over the matter but insisted that the Fil-Am guard should make amends with his teammates – something the veteran coach hoped to have been settled during the players’ only meeting.
“I think the most important thing is the relationship within the players. The fabric of the team has to remain strong. As far as I am concerned, Mikey comes back to practice and he works hard and he puts in everything that he is asked to him, there’s no need for him to apologize to me,” said Reyes.
“The most important thing for him is to apologize to his teammates. Those are the people that he really put down by his absence so I’m fine as far as I’m concerned the most important thing is the team, the players, like if they’re together they have just to rebuild the fabric,” he added.