Gilas Pilipinas coach Chot Reyes during the Philippines’ game vs New Zealand. FIBA BASKETBALL PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines—Gilas Pilipinas head coach Chot Reyes shrugged off his skeptics after clamor to bring back former Philippine team mentor Tab Baldwin erupted during a Fiba World Cup qualifying game against New Zealand on Sunday.
Chants of “We want Baldwin” were heard at Araneta Coliseum during the game won by the Tall Blacks, 88-63.
“I didn’t hear it to be very honest. I expected it. I accepted this job with my eyes wide open. I knew I was going to get widely bashed, criticized, and hated upon and I still took it nonetheless because that’s never going to get in the way of my service for the country,” Reyes said in an interview on CNN Philippines’ Sports Desk on Monday.
Some fans leaving @TheBigDome now. One even yelling “Balik niyo si Baldwin!”
New Zealand on top 80-57 with over three minutes left in the ball game @inquirerdotnet @INQUIRERSports #FIBAWCQ pic.twitter.com/qzyMDxSzF2
— Denison Rey Dalupang (@sonrdINQ) February 27, 2022
“That’s the least of my problems. I have a lot bigger problems on my plate right now than to mind the haters and the bashers.”
In a surprise development last month, Reyes was tapped by the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) to replace Baldwin at Gilas’ helm—a move that raised eyebrows.
Reyes, who steered the Philippines back in the World Cup in 2014, however, couldn’t care any less about the criticisms.
“To be honest, they don’t know what’s going on inside. Unless they are in the innards of the team, then whatever they say has very little meaning to me and I don’t pay any attention to it,” he said.