PBA: Jai Reyes’ career finds new life with Kia Motors

MANILA, Philippines – After being selected by Kia Motors in July’s dispersal draft, the former UAAP Rookie of the Year says he is excited to be a part of the franchise’s first chapter as it heads towards its inaugural season. 

“Although there’s no final lineup yet you can see the final direction the team wants to head towards,” said Reyes, 27. “The thing is there’s no real superstars on the team so we have to play together, especially on defense. We’re not going to outgun or outscore any of these teams in the PBA right now so we have to play as a team if we want to be competitive this coming season.”

Reyes, who won two UAAP championships with Ateneo in 2008 and 2009, was drafted by the Powerade Tigers in 2010 before moving to the D-League Cebuana Lhuillier Gems the following year. Reyes then played two seasons in the ASEAN Basketball League with the Bangkok Cobras before Talk ’N Text offered him a contract.

Reyes dismissed a report that he had a contract dispute with Kia, adding that no formal offer had been made as he is still under contract with Talk ’N Text until August 31. The season is slated to begin in early October. 

For Reyes, playing for Kia offers him a second shot at finding his form in the PBA. Playing behind Gilas Pilipinas stalwarts Jimmy Alapag and Jayson Castro last season, Reyes averaged just 1.6 points a game in 5.6 minutes last season.

“So for us, the guys who got drafted in the expansion draft, maybe aside from Nic Belasco, all of us haven’t really gotten any abundant playing time with the teams we were with before and some of the other guys haven’t had their shot in the PBA,” said the 5-foot-9 Reyes. 

“I’m just really thankful for (team managers) Eric Pineda and Joe Ramos, Coach Glen Capacio and Coach Manny (Pacquiao) because I haven’t really been getting any minutes so nobody has really seen me play in a while. Now I have an opportunity to show what I’ve been working on the last couple of years.”

Coach Manny  

The Kia team, which has stated its intentions to draft head coach and eight-division boxing champion Manny Pacquiao with the 11th pick in the upcoming rookie draft, will likely train at the same complex as the Pacman readies for his November 23 fight with WBO junior welterweight titleholder Chris Algieri in Macau. (RELATED: Pacquiao to train alongside KIA team in Metro Manila)

“You can see his passion for everything he does,” said Reyes of Pacquiao. “Basketball really is the number one sport here and he’s trying to show everybody what it takes to be a world class athlete. The work ethic, he’s really motivating when he’s at practice, just the passion he has for the sport and for the Philippines. He wants to help everyone from the coaches down to the players. It’s just contagious for everyone. Just him being around it’s just a great atmosphere for everyone on the team.”

Reyes said he had a taste of Pacquiao’s competitive spirit a week ago when he took part in a team scrimmage. “I was actually guarding him. He never gets tired, he didn’t take a deep breath the whole game. He’s also fast.”

Despite coming from an individual sport in boxing, Pacquiao has instilled in them an appreciation for the team concept, Reyes says, which he believes is just what the team needs to hear.

“First we have to gel as a team; basketball is a team sport,” said Reyes. “Especially in this team, no one guy can get a win for us. Since for most of us it’s a second shot at the PBA we have to take out the mentality that it’s my time to shine and be individualistic. 

“It’s like what Coach Glen and Coach Manny keep on saying, if the team has success everyone’s going to get noticed. That’s the concept we’re trying to get down.” – Rappler.com