TNT coach Chot Reyes downplayed a verbal exchange with star rookie Mikey Williams near the end of the team’s 106-93 win over Blackwater in the PBA Governors’ Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The two had some words at the bench after Reyes took Williams out of the game with 58.3 seconds left in the fourth quarter when the latter committed a bad pass that led to a turnover.

Poy Erram was seen during the broadcast of the game trying to comfort his teammate while Reyes had to walk far away from Williams as the situation eventually calmed down.

Reyes later explained that it was not something out of the ordinary.

“We had a player-coach argument which is a very normal part of our culture,” Reyes said. “I always encourage players to speak up (and) communicate (and) sometimes that communication can be heated.

“But I’d much rather have that than the player keeps his feelings to himself, then manifests it in some other way,” he added.

The turnover was perhaps the only blemish in another impressive showing from Williams, who finished with 23 points on 9-of-20 shooting with six rebounds, two assists and four steals as TNT won its third straight for a 5-4 record.

All of TNT’s victories during the streak were double-digit margins as it prevailed over San Miguel Beer by 15 and Barangay Ginebra by 27.

Those lopsided triumphs came before the Tropang Giga went on a 12-day break due to commitments of some players with Gilas Pilipinas in the FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers.