Olympic bronze medalist Brian Goorjian willing to exchange thoughts with Gilas mentor Chot Reyes

Bay Area and Australia coach Brian Goorjian has set a meeting with TNT and Gilas coach Chot Reyes to exchange some hoop ideas. Dennis Acosta

By Ivan Saldajeno

PASIG—When Bay Area's record-setting beating of TNT was formalized on Wednesday at the PhilSports Arena here, coaches Brian Goorjian and Chot Reyes had a long talk when they shook hands.

As it turned out, according to Goorjian, the post-game conversation was beyond the PBA.

"We're both involved with national teams. It's just an opportunity to share some ideas and thoughts moving forward," Goorjian, also the Australian national team coach, bared what the short meeting was about.

If the current FIBA ranking is to be considered, it may look like Reyes, the mentor of the world no. 40 Gilas Pilipinas, will need more inputs from Goorjian, the chief tactician of the third-ranked Boomers, on how to improve the squad drastically, all the more when Goorjian's Dragons handed Reyes' Tropang Giga their second-worst loss under his tutelage as confirmed by the PBA's chief statistician Fidel Mangonon.

[Related Story: Bay Area sets 4-year PBA high, spoils Matt Mobley's TNT debut to seal QF bonus]

However, even Goorjian, who led the Aussies to the Tokyo Olympic bronze last year, looks forward to getting some coaching philosophies as well from Reyes.

"I have respect for his basketball brain," Goorjian further said.

In a separate interview, Reyes said that the said respect traces back to a long time ago.

"Kaibigan ko yun. I've known him way before, mga 20 years," Reyes said. "We've been friends for a long long time."

Now that Bay Area is done with its PBA Commissioner's Cup elimination round assignments, the team, already armed with a once-to-advance edge in the quarterfinals, has two full weeks to prepare for the playoffs.

However, Goorjian wants to block a certain time to meet with Reyes anew for more exchange of ideas.

"I said, 'We've got a little break here. Maybe we can get together, have a meal, and break bread,'" Goorjian revealed the invitation.

Reyes confirmed it, saying, "We promised to get together over dinner."

Follow him on Twitter: @IvanSaldajeno