Gilas Pilipinas coach Chot Reyes. –CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — Chot Reyes will call the shots for Gilas Pilipinas in the 2022 Fiba Asia Cup from July 12 to 24 in Jakarta, Indonesia.
After missing the third window of the Fiba World Cup 2023 Asian Qualifiers, the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) announced on Friday evening that Reyes, who is also the program director, will be back to coach the young Philippine men’s basketball squad.
Reyes is returning as head coach after the national team settled for an embarrassing runner-up finish in the 31st Southeast Asian Games in Hanoi, Vietnam.
“The competition in Jakarta, Indonesia will be crucial to the continuing development of the younger players in preparation for the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023,” SBP wrote in a statement.
“The FIBA Asia Cup will be a great way to measure how much Gilas has improved as they face off once again with New Zealand and India. It will also be a great chance to test our young squad against another top Asian team in Lebanon in the group stage.”
“As always, we thank the Filipino basketball fans, the best fans in the world, for their support. It’s a long and difficult process but the SBP is continuously working to build the best team possible for the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023,” the statement concluded.
The TNT head coach will be working with Nenad Vucinic, who called the shots for the squad in the third window, along with Jong Uichico and Sandro Soriano as his assistant coaches.
Reyes previously said that position won’t matter between him and Vucinic as they will help each other.
“It doesn’t really matter. It’s going to be a combination. Coach Nenad will have to continue training because I’m coaching in the PBA. We’ll need coach Nenad to continue training and preparing the team,” he said after Gilas Pilipinas’ 79-63 victory over India on Sunday at Mall of Asia Arena.
However, SBP has yet to reveal the Gilas roster four days before the opener of the Asian Cup.
Reyes said the players from the third window are not yet shoo-ins as they are looking to add players from TNT, Bobby Ray Parks Jr., and Thirdy Ravena.
Gilas is slated against New Zealand, Lebanon, and India in Group D.