PBA Coaches Ryan Gregorio and Chot Reyes Will Go to China

The Smart-PLDT Group is convinced they have able staff that will man the fort while Talk n Text head coach Chot Reyes and Meralco chief tactician Ryan Gregorio are with Smart Gilas-Pilipinas campaigning in the FIBA-Asia championship in Wuhan, China. Reyes and Gregorio will be away for two weeks, and would be reunited with their PBA teams with only a week to go before the opening of PBA Season 37 on Oct. 2 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

 Top bosses of the Pangilinan teams, however, insist everything will be well covered in the absence of Reyes and Gregorio. “Their assistant coaches will be there to take over,” said Smart-PLDT top executive Ricky Vargas, referring to Nash Racela, Josh Reyes and Jamike Jarin at Talk n Text and Ronnie Magsanoc, Boyet Fernandez, Patrick Fran and Xavier Nunag at Meralco. The Bolts have long been in training since they’re among the first teams to take an early vacation last season. The Tropang Texters, the team that had the longest 2010-2011 season, re-open camp Tuesday when coach Reyes is already in Wuhan. “We practiced four hours a day since I’ll be away for a long period of time.

 We worked double time to establish the system we want to implement,” said Gregorio. “Ilang araw na lang tournament na pagbalik ko but, of course, we have to prioritize the country,” Gregorio added. Gregorio said Magsanoc would be the one in command in his absence. Reyes should also not have a problem, leaving the reins at Talk n Text to Racela, a long-time deputy.