'Business-like' huddle helps TNT crush 'tough' Terrafirma in 2nd half says Chot Reyes

Chot Reyes said TNT's halftime huddle was "business-like". PBA Images
By Ivan Saldajeno

MANILA--Coach Chot Reyes said that he already foresaw Terrafirma putting up a very gallant stand against TNT in their PBA Philippine Cup game on Friday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.

So, according to him, the Tropang Giga approached their halftime huddle as if they were in a crucial business meeting.

"We were business-like at halftime because we knew that this was a tough team. We had no pretensions and illusions about this being an easy game, so we knew that they were going to come back. It would be a difficult game, so at halftime, we just talked about some adjustments we needed to make defensively," Reyes said.

TNT stifled Terrafirma in the first quarter and raced to a 31-14 lead only for the latter to climb back with a 34-18 second quarter to cut the lead to one, 49-48, at halftime.

The Tropang Giga responded well after the halftime huddle and outscored the Dyip, 35-19, in the third period to reopen the 17-point cushion.

However, Reyes had to remind his TNT players that Terrafirma might mount a fourth-quarter storm and possibly steal the victory, which could have finally brought the team into the win column after a 0-5 start.

"When the third quarter ended and we were again leading by 17, we just reminded the players, 'Here we are again. It's exactly how we ended the first quarter, so make sure that we play with a lot more defensive intensity starting in the fourth quarter. Make sure that what happened in the second quarter will not recur,'" he further said.

The Tropang Giga responded by outscoring the Dyip, 30-19, to seal the 114-86 blowout.

[Related Story: TNT adds to Terrafirma's woes with own blowout]

Cutting the long story short, TNT indeed took the "business meeting" seriously.

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