Jai Reyes makes the most of his opportunity with Meralco

Diminutive Meralco guard Jai Reyes played his best performance in the pro ranks against expansion club Kia and it certainly proved to be a personal mission for the 5-foot-7 playmaker.

After failing to come to terms with the Carnival who selected him in the dispersal draft before the season started, Reyes gained some measure of revenge on Friday night inside the Astrodome as he provided a surprising lift offensively while playing a key role in the Bolts’ 90-80 victory for a hold of the solo lead in the PBA Commissioner's Cup.

Tasked to fill up the slack left by starting guard Mike Cortez who is nursing an injured knee, Reyes stepped up to the challenge as he knocked down three triples—two of them coming in their last surge in the second frame—and finished with a career-high of 16 points, chiefly backstopping veteran gunner Gary David and do-it-all import Josh Davis, who combined for 44 markers, 30 of them coming in their dominant showing in the second half.

But more than proving he is a capable backup guard, Reyes admitted he “wanted to prove something” against the Carnival.

“Sila ‘yung nag-draft sa akin during the dispersal draft (in July last year). I kinda wanted to prove something na drinaft nila ako tapos hindi natuloy sa contract signing. So I wanted to prove to them na kaya ko rin maglaro,” shared Reyes to several sports scribes, visibly pleased with his timely performance that had flashes of his clutch plays during his collegiate days with Ateneo, which he led to a pair of UAAP men’s cage titles in 2008 and 2009.

Activated just a day before the mid-season tourney started, Reyes didn’t see action in their big 85-74 win over crowd darling Barangay Ginebra last Tuesday but responded to the big challenge by leading their second unit that pleased Meralco coach Norman Black no end.

“Jai played a big role in orchestrating our offense. I though he did a pretty good job of stepping up in the absence of Mike Cortez,” noted Black, who also handled Reyes during their dominant run in the UAAP and even at Talk ’N Text last season.

“Magkasama rin naman kami last year ni coach Norman. Kilala ko na siya. I know how to please him kung ano ang gusto niya,” beamed Reyes.

“I’m just thankful for the opportunity na binigay sa akin ngayon. Nagkataon na si Mike namamaga ang tuhod so I just took advantage of the opportunity. If you know na ‘yung ka-posisyon mo at ahead pa sa’yo (on the rotation) ay injured, you need to step up. ‘Yun naman kasi ang role namin. You just have to be ready. Kapag may opportunity, you have to grab it. Kasi ‘pag nawala, you have to wait for another one,” he added.

Although he hopes to play extended minutes moving forward, Reyes was quick to stress it’s not in his control. “It’s not for me to decide. My role is to play ready when my number is called upon. Hopefully, I get more playing time. But if I don’t, basta manalo kami, ‘yun ang masaya,” he said.