To better focus on the PBA Season 48 Commissioner’s Cup, TNT head coach Jojo Lastimosa has delegated negotiations with Mikey Williams to Chot Reyes.

Although he is also the Tropang Giga’s team manager, the cage legend chose to delegate responsibility for the star guard to their senior consultant, despite the fact that the season has already begun.

It is a swap between Lastimosa and Reyes. The former handled Williams’ contract predicament last season, as his first order of business after being named TM of the flagship MVP organization at the time.

TNT and Williams are once again at odds after the two-time Finals MVP chose to renegotiate a new contract for the next season.

Both parties have yet to reach an agreement, and Williams has remained a no-show. He did not play in the Tropa’s season opener against Magnolia on Sunday.

TNT’s comeback fell short, 110-102. Lastimosa noted that Williams’ score and Roger Pogoy’s presence were both much missed.

Lastimosa and company, however, will fight on regardless of the outcome of the team’s negotiations with the 32-year-old Williams.

“I’ll just ride this out as long as I can and, I’m hoping for Chot to come back refreshed,” he said.

On the other hand, Calvin Abueva is enthusiastic about returning to Magnolia sooner.

The two-time BPC is pleased with his recovery from hemorrhoid treatment, which he underwent two months before the start of the new PBA season.

On Sunday, he attended the Season 48 opening ceremonies after being named to the previous season’s All-Defensive Team in the Leo Awards.

Abueva’s optimism derives from his feelings during yesterday’s team practice, since he has already participated in light exercises and non-contact sessions.

However, Abueva will discover more about how well he has been doing this week, since doctors have cleared him to lift weights.