Chot Reyes calls it quits as Gilas coach

Philippines’ coach Vincent Reyes gives instructions to his players during the 2014 FIBA World basketball championships group B match Croatia vs Philippines at the Palacio Municipal de Deportes in Sevilla on August 30, 2014. AFP FILE PHOTO / CRISTINA QUICLER

MANILA, Philippines — After close to three years of a roller-coaster international ride, Chot Reyes formally stepped down as the Gilas Pilipinas national basketball coach Monday by asking that his name be stricken off any future lists to be considered by a selection committee for the job.

In charge of the Gilas program since 2012 and after steering the country to a Jones Cup title that year, a silver medal finish in the Fiba Asia Championship last year that led to the Philippines’ return to the World Cup in close to four decades, Reyes has decided to call it quits.

“It is time for someone else to take over the wheel; it is time for me to hand over that wheel,” Reyes said in a statement released by the Sports5 website where he is the president.

Manny V. Pangilinan, the country’s basketball godfather, accepted Reyes’ request with a heavy heart, commending the firebrand coach for “what must have been a most difficult and courageous decision—giving up a task and a privilege I know he truly deserves.”

It is my hope however that time and distance will judge the Gilas events, and his performance, in the last two years with a slightly more moderate and compassionate view than that offered by some present-day commentators,” said Pangilinan also through the Sports5 website.

Reyes said his decision has everything to do with the fact that he wants the newly formed Selection Committee to be able to have a free hand in naming the candidates in its short list.

The committee gets together for the first time today at an undisclosed place and time and with Reyes out, several names like Tim Cone, Jong Uichico, Norman Black, Yeng Guiao and even naturalized American Tab Baldwin could be in the list. Ricky Vargas, president of the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas, is the group’s chair, which also counts as members PBA chair Patrick Gregorio, vice chair Robert Non, commissioner Chito Salud and SBP’s Sonny Barrios. Although bombarded by criticisms following the country’s worst-ever finish in the Asian Games last month, Reyes said that being at the helm of the Gilas program was “difficult and wonderful.”

“I have personally derived great pride and much satisfaction for the strides Gilas Pilipinas has undertaken,” he said.
“Despite the intense pressure that came with the job and the public scrutiny that goes with being the national coach, this job has always been a unique privilege,” Reyes said. “I wouldn’t trade it for anything else.”