Chot says versatile big ideal for Gilas

MANILA, Philippines — Former Gilas Pilipinas coach Chot Reyes batted for a tall naturalized player with a fine shooting touch to complement the nationals’ young core that should include a tougher Kai Sotto in the 2023 FIBA World Cup.

Reyes, who was at the helm when Gilas gave rivals a big scare in the 2014 WC, said a big guy who’s also a perimeter threat will be ideal for Gilas in the global meet the country is hosting.

“We need a tall guy who can also play outside because that could be to our advantage, that’s the way we give other teams problems,” Reyes said during the Coaches Unfiltered podcast Thursday night.

“If our big man can also be a stretch four or five, then that’s the perfect type of player,” he added.

A versatile wingman will also do, noted Reyes, especially with the two US-based youngsters, 7-foot-2 Sotto and 6-foot-10 AJ Edu, expected to be ripe by 2023.

“If Kai and AJ develop as we think they should, then maybe we can look at somebody who is a more skillful, more all-around wingman type who can also play guard, forward, shoot the three because we already have the two bigs,” he said.

Six-foot-11 Andray Blatche played the role for the last five years but looked already done after his second WC stint last year in China under Yeng Guiao.

Ateneo center Angelo Kouame, Ginebra resident import Justin Brownlee, and former San Miguel Beer reinforcement Chris McCullough are among the names being considered for the spot moving forward.

The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas has formed a Gilas core composed of young guns led by Isaac Go, Thirdy Ravena, Rey Suerte, and twins Matt and Mike Nieto, for the 2023 program.

For Reyes, that’s the right way to go.

“I like what the SBP is doing now. They’re going with the younger kids, making sure they’re preparing them for 2023. They’re giving them two, three years time together and I think that’s a really good program, that’s the right approach,” he said.

“Of course, it remains to be seen how they’re going to execute and implement but I think it’s the right program,” he added.