Jaworski says coaching Gilas will be ‘a great honor’

By: Mark Giongco - 10 years ago

Robert Jaworski. INQUIRER.net FILE PHOTO/Mark Giongco

MANILA, Philippines — Sports icon Robert Jaworski is open at the possibility of coaching the Philippine men’s National basketball team.

Jaworski, the former Senator and PBA legend, said late Wednesday night that coaching the National team is going to be hard but that won’t hinder him from considering the position if he gets the job offer.

“It’s gonna be a tough job. But I think taking a serious look at it is not a bad idea because it’s a calling,” Jaworski told reporters during Allen Iverson’s charity basketball game at the Mall of Asia Arena. “But huwag natin pangunahan yan (let’s not get ahead of ourselves).”

The Gilas Pilipinas head-coaching job has been vacated following the team’s disbandment after a recent board meeting headed by the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas. During the meeting, a search committee was formed in charge to look for the team’s next head coach.

When asked if he’s interested to coach the National team, Jaworski didn’t directly answer with a yes or a no but instead recalled the time he spoke with the Gilas team last year.

“As I mentioned to the Gilas team before they even played here in the Fiba Asia, I told them if you ever want to be remembered as a basketball player by your family, friends and everybody else, that’s the best thing that could ever happen to you — to represent the country and to represent it well. And they did.”

Jaworski has taken a step back from basketball having no direct involvement with any team in the PBA since resigning as head coach of Ginebra in 1999 but he remains as one of the most influential people in Philippine sports.

But a job offer to coach the most revered team in the country could possibly lure Jaworski, one of the most adored personalities here, back into the basketball scene.

“My gosh, it’s a great honor if it happens,” he said. “It feels good but it’s a tough job. It’s not an easy job.”

“But when you got the support of the group that is in basketball and the support of the general public, how wonderful could that be,” added Jaworski. “How can you go wrong? Meaning, you are out there wanting and desiring and capable of giving your best, fantastic because you will not be a loser.”

Jaworski was part of the 1973 Philippine team that won the gold medal in the Asian Basketball Confederation (now Fiba Asia) and was the coach of the 1990 National team, which took home the silver medal in the Asian Games.

Gilas wound up with the silver medal in the 2013 Fiba Asia Championship, captured the world’s adulation with a spirited campaign in the 2014 Fiba World Cup in Spain last August but took a blow after reeling to its worst finish in the Asian Games last September.

Jaworski is also pleased with how SBP president and sports patron Manny V. Pangilinan has been directing the country’s sports program.

“Let’s face it, it’s not easy to come up with millions for this endeavor but it’s worth it,” said Jaworski. “And for the company relations with its consumers it’s give and take.”

“That’s wonderful. I hope he continues to support basketball and other sports as he’s been doing and other worthy endeavors.”