Reyes welcomes help for Gilas from players like Teng

Photo by Tristan Tamayo/ INQUIRER.net

Gilas Pilipinas coach Chot Reyes expressed his elation over the deluge of players who want to be part of the national team.

“I think it’s testament to the culture that we’ve built, where players are now wanting to be part of the pool. Not too long ago, players were finding excuses not to be in the pool. Now it’s the opposite. We’ve built a culture here where people want to come in,” he said.

Aside from the initial list of players he announced earlier in the month, Ray Parks and Jeron Teng have signified their intentions to be a part of the pool.

Parks was able to participate when Gilas resumed its trainings on July 20, earning him a spot in the 2017 Southeast Asian Games crew.

Teng, on the other hand, came too little too late after his stint with Chooks-Pilipinas 3×3 in the 2017 Fiba 3×3 World Cup. By that time, Reyes had already submitted his shortlist for the 2017 Jones Cup and SEA Games squads.

“Even before this final 12, there was already an accreditation list of 24 or 30 that was asked a month or so already. If you’re not part of that, you can’t get in,” he said. “It’s going to be difficult for Jeron to make it, and thats what I told him when he asked if he could join the practices. I said that there’s really no assurance if he can make any line up simply because it’s too late.”

Though the chances are bleak, the La Salle stud still appeared on Tuesday at Meralco Gym, but was limited to an observer from the sidelines as he battled a case of flu.

Teng plans to join the team practices on Friday and extend a helping hand to the SEA Games-bound crew.

“I’ll go there tomorrow,” he said in a short text message.

Reyes lauded Teng’s efforts, saying that guys like him “are more than welcome to attend practice.”

He also noted that players expressing their commitment to the national team, like what Teng did, could only be beneficial moving forward.

“We want to include as many players as possible who we feel are going to help the team,” he said. “I know at the very start that only those who are in the PBA can make the pool, but that was before we found out the kind of schedule and the other conditions from the other teams, so we have to make changes that is very adaptable.”

“Again, nobody is a lock, not even the veterans, so it’s not like they’re being singled out, but everyone else has to earn their spots. You have to fight your slot.”