NO doubt Chot Reyes brought the best out of veteran guard Jared Dillinger.
Notably in terms of mind games.
The 36-year-old Barangay Ginebra guard recalled how his former coach at Talk 'N Text would try to call out his attention by breaking him down mentally.
"He really taught me how to be mentally strong," admitted Dillinger.
"He'll grouch you in the newspaper, he'll grouch you in the huddle and say stuff like, 'hey everyone don't pass to Jared, he doesn't want to play today. He's garbage today, so don't pass him the ball,'" added Dillinger of how Reyes, also the former Gilas Pilipinas coach, would try to motivate him especially when he's having a bad game.
In a way, it worked.
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The Fil-Am from Rapid City, South Dakota won five of his six PBA championships playing under Reyes with the Texters, including the 2009 Philippine Cup right in his rookie year.
Dillinger later became a significant part of the Texters' dynasty in which the team won three straight Philippine Cup titles from 2011 to 2013 that made it the first to take home the Emilio 'Jun' Bernardino Perpetual Trophy.
In all, Dillinger, picked by Reyes at no. 2 overall in the 2008 draft, made the finals seven times during his six-year stint with TnT.
Playing for Norman Black at Meralco, the veteran guard also suited up in the finals twice with the Bolts, and then won his sixth league title upon his transfer at Barangay Ginebra last season.
"In the PBA, I had really good opportunities to play with great coaches," said Dillinger. "Like I play with coach Chot Reyes, coach Black, and coach Cone, obviously."
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But there's nothing like the tough love he had gotten from Reyes.
"That dude will break you down," Dillinger added. "He really taught me how to be the player that I am today. "
Dillinger shared his side of the story in one of the Kamustahan episodes of the PBA. (RG)
