MANILA, Philippines — Coach Chot Reyes is ready to face the challenge of charting the course for Gilas Pilipinas for the fast-approaching 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup that the country is co-hosting.
Reyes, the man behind the famous “Puso” battlecry and who previously steered Gilas to runner-up honors in the 2013 FIBA Asia Cup and a spot to the 2014 World Cup, regained his old post yesterday. He took over from Tab Baldwin who stepped down to focus on his duties with the Ateneo Blue Eagles.
“I was shocked initially (by the offer) but like I’ve always said, I can’t turn my back on the call of flag and country,” Reyes said on CNN Philippines’ Sports Desk program yesterday.
Reyes, who recently won the PBA Philippine Cup in his comeback stint with the TNT Tropang Giga, plunges back into action as national mentor with Gilas set to play in the WC qualifiers on Feb. 24-28 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. The challenge is to form a competitive squad while dealing with pandemic restrictions and issues like availability of the young mainstays currently playing overseas.
“I’m as surprised as anyone by the sudden turn of events. I’ve always believed in the program and system coach Tab is developing. But now things happen and such is life. We have to be able to pivot and adjust, change direction with speed and quickness,” he said.
“This is going to be a helluva, difficult, gargantuan task. We’re going to give it our best and we’re going to do our all para sa bayan and we need everyone’s help and prayers,” he added.
Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) chairman emeritus Manny V. Pangilinan welcomed Reyes back on board.
“Chot is the sensible choice to take over Gilas coaching because he is very familiar with the program. He also has solid experience in international competition and FIBA games,” Pangilinan said.
SBP president Al Panlilio concurred. “Considering the high-level performance expected of Gilas, we decided to go with the coach who brought the country back to the FIBA World Cup in 2014.”
Reyes, who last held the Gilas coaching post in 2018, is doing “double duty” as he’s also preparing TNT for the resumption of the Governors’ Cup on Feb. 11.