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Manila Bulletin devider Sports devider Basketball devider Rising through the darkest days of his career, Chot Reyes finds his seventh heaven

Rising through the darkest days of his career, Chot Reyes finds his seventh heaven

Published Oct 14, 2025 02:24 pm
“Success is never final but failure is never fatal.”
Having gone through the highest of highs and the lowest of lows, TNT head coach Chot Reyes certainly learned it the hard way.
So hard that he thought of walking away from coaching, and then a year after relishing a success he never thought he would experience again.
Reyes, for guiding the Tropang 5G to yet another near-grand slam by winning the Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup and Governors’ Cup last season, was hailed as the PBA Press Corps Coach of the Year for a record seventh time.
He was being celebrated and was given much of the credit for the success.
Quite a contrast to how it was half a year ago when he was being jeered and booed by the fans every time he was being shown on the jumbotron during the Gilas Pilipinas game against China in the 2023 FIBA World Cup.
“Last year was a year full of memories. But one memory stands out in my mind, and that was Sept. 2, 2023, right next door, when the Philippines played China,” recalled Reyes during his acceptance speech during the PBA Press Corps 31st Awards Night at the Novotel Araneta.
“And after the players were introduced, the coach was introduced, and I was booed by my own home crowd. The deepest, darkest moment in my professional career.”
“I guess I’m used to it, but when I looked behind me to where my family was seated, my wife and my daughter were in near tears. I thought, at that time, that I had enough coaching. I didn’t deserve everything that had happened so far,” he added.
But fate had different plans for Reyes. He never walked away from coaching but only took a break before finding his way back to success – a journey that he shared among his players.
“It’s not about ‘me’ but it is about ‘we’ and I’m so happy that I have my players here, Brandon, Calvin, Rondae, team manager Jojo, chairman Ricky Vargas because the coach of the year award does not represent individual but the team success. I wouldn't be standing here if our team did not do well,” said Reyes.
And while the journey to every Coach of the Year award, was never the same, the feeling when he first won the plum in 2022 and now on his seventh time, remains the same – it was always special
“People ask me what’s the difference between then and now, and I say it’s the hair. I had jet-black hair then, and now, no more. It's all white,” Reyes said.
“But it’s always special. Every award, every year, every season, it’s special,” he added.
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