FILE – Chot Reyes. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines—Gilas Pilipinas head coach Chot Reyes would’ve preferred to have young big men Justine Baltazar and Carl Tamayo for the 2023 Fiba World Cup Asian Qualifiers.
Reyes, however, will have to play the hand that he was dealt with heading into the continental competition, which tips off on February 24.
Baltazar and Tamayo won’t be joining the national team in the February window as their collegiate teams, De La Salle and University of the Philippines, are neck-deep into their preparations for the UAAP Season 84.
Reyes, in an interview with Noli Eala’s Power & Play podcast, said he would’ve wanted to field a team mainly consisting of the top amateur players and help them develop for the Fiba Basketball World Cup.
“What I really wanted was to field a lineup for February that’s as competitive as possible but still very developmental in nature,” said Reyes in Filipino.
“That’s why it would’ve been a big deal if Carl Tamayo and Justine Baltazar and all the young guys could come and join us.”
Baltazar, who stands at 6-foot-7, had five games under his belt in the Asia Cup Qualifiers averaging 7.4 points and 7.8 rebounds per game playing as a wing under former head coach Tab Baldwin’s system.
Tamayo, also at 6-foot-7, only played in the previous window and averaged 8.0 points and 2.5 rebounds.
Nevertheless, Reyes is looking forward to working with the other young players Ange Kouame and Dwight Ramos.
“We still have some young guys, and right now, that’s what we have, and that’s what we’ll continue to build on,” said Reyes.
“My expectation is to get a feel of actually going to battle and working with Ange, with Dwight, with all the Gilas guys. For me, that’s my number one goal, and I guess for the program, the goal is the continued development of those young kids in preparation for 2023.”