"WE'RE sooo ready," was how TNT coach Chot Reyes replied when asked if his side is ready to plunge into action against Terrafirma Saturday in the PBA Philippine Cup.
Of course, Reyes would be quick to point out that his words should be taken with a grain of salt while explaining that their preparations, no matter how lengthy, still leave plenty to be desired.
Game time is 2 p.m. at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City.
"We haven't even met Mikey Williams," reasoned Reyes. "Hindi ko alam when he'll join us. Naka-quarantine pa. That's why when I say we're so ready, that's tongue in cheek. Hindi ko malaman kung makakasama pa sa amin ito, kung kelan siya p'wede. Hindi pa kami nagkakakilala-kilala "
Williams, picked at No. 4 overall in last March's Rookie Draft and expected to take over the chores of absentee Rayray Parks, arrived in the country last Wednesday and is still undergoing the mandatory isolation.
That should come as welcome news for Terrafirma coach Johnedel Cardel, but not that much. "Kahit walang Mikey Williams iyon malakas pa rin talaga TNT, kasi most of their players mga beterano na," he pointed out.
"Kung saan-saan na nakalaro ,like Gilas, kaya hindi mo pa rin p'wedeng i-underestimate. Nandiyan pa si Coach Chot Reyes. Alam naman natin na beterano ring coach," added Cardel, whose Dyip wound up dead-last in last year's Philippine Cup bubble at Clark.
Two-time scoring champion CJ Perez is also gone, having been traded to San Miguel Beer. But in his place is top draft pick Joshua Munzon, as well as 6-10 James Laput, both of whom Cardel pins much hopes on, as well as Matt Ganuelas-Rosser and Gelo Alolino, who came in as part of the Perez package.
The eight-month preparation, including the last three weeks with Munzon, should also help Terrafirma.
"This time I think we're more prepared than in the bubble," said Cardel.
"Siyempre, mga new players ko naka-catch up na sila sa sistema namin. Siguro we will try our best to keep the game close and give ourselves a chance to win in the end."
That may not be too far-fetched an idea, according to Reyes. "Wala kaming tune-up game, kulang, kaya wala kaming idea kung ano level namin at this point. Hindi mo masabi.," insisted the tactician re-appointed to the TNT helm after an absence dating back to 2012.
"Except 'yung mga established na teams na, mga Ginebra, Meralco, San Miguel. 'Yung sistema nila nandoon na, eh. Practice lang ng mga iyon alam mo na lalaruin nila. Di tulad naming mga bago. Disadvantaged talaga mga newer teams in this set-up. Alam ko lahat walang tune-up, pero kung established na team ka na mas lamang ka," expounded the five-time Coach of the Year.
"Kaya masaya ito (game versus Terrafirma). Masakit sa matang basketball ito... malamang."