MANILA – Coach Chot Reyes could not help but be saddened following the news that Alaska will be leaving the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) after the Governors' Cup.
After all, his career as a coach after playing collegiate basketball for Ateneo during the early '80s began with the Alaska franchise.
"I started my PBA career as an assistant coach in Alaska, and I'm deeply saddened by the turn of events, but I guess—like I said when I told my players today—that's life. We really can't tell," Reyes said on Wednesday night, hours after the Aces' shocking announcement.
The Tropang Giga had a scheduled game against the San Miguel Beermen at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City where the former won, 96-81.
There was even a time when Reyes handled Alaska on an interim basis when the Basketball Coaches Association of the Philippines barred American coach Tim Cone from gaffing the team in 1991 due to a violation in the Labor Code.
Reyes was given the coaching chores for the team formerly known as the Milkmen in the 1991 PBA Philippine Cup, in which the team finished third place.
The impressive finish set up the Aces' title run in the Third Conference when Cone finally resolved his issues with BCAP and returned to the coaching staff.
Expressing his commiserations, Reyes added, "My heart goes out to Fred [Uytengsu] and all the management, players, and coaches of Alaska. It is a part of life."
Despite the Aces' impending departure from the league after 35 seasons, Reyes remains optimistic that the PBA will remain strong despite losing one of its modern-day strongholds.
"I'm pretty sure with the guidance of the board and the leadership of Commissioner Willie [Marcial], we will overcome it," Reyes said. (PNA)
Chot Reyes 'deeply saddened' by Alaska's impending PBA exit - pna.gov.ph
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