Gilas Pilipinas legend Marc Pingris with his former national team coach Chot Reyes. Photo from Marc Pingris’ Instagram
MANILA, Philippines—Current Gilas Pilipinas players aren’t the only ones dismayed over the home crowd’s booing of head coach Chot Reyes in the Fiba World Cup 2023 Asian Qualifiers on Monday before 19,829 fans at Mall of Asia Arena.
Even former national team star Marc Pingris, who watched the game with his son, celebrity father-in-law Vic Sotto, and Pasig Mayor and brother-in-law Vico Sotto, shared the same sentiment.
“Nung nakita ko kanina medyo nasasaktan ako. Sorry sa mga fans kasi kailangan niyong malaman ito. Ang hirap maging isang coach lalo na kung hindi niya makuha yung time or yung practice or yung mga gusto niyang kunin na players,” said the 6-foot-4 forward, who was an integral part of Reyes’ national squad that made the 2014 Fiba World Cup.
(I felt hurt when I heard it. Sorry to the fans but they have to understand that it’s hard to coach a team when you’re not getting enough time to practice and not getting the players you need.)
The PBA legend, who retired in 2020, believes even former Gilas coach Tab Baldwin would have dealt with the same issues as Reyes as far as the lack of preparation time and unavailability of the players are concerned.
“Kahit sinong ilalagay nyo na coach dito, sasabihin ko na sa inyo kahit si coach Tab ang ilagay niyo dito, one week practice lang, hindi nila kaya magchampion or manalo. Kasi ang buhay diyan coach tas players diba kailangan magjell sila yung practice yung defense nila importante. Kailangan alam nila yun,” Pingris said.
(No matter who you put, even if it’s coach Tab, they won’t be able to win a championship or win a game with just one week of practice. Because the players will need to jell in practice and defense is important. They (fans) have to realize that.)
Regardless, Pingris was thrilled to see the latest Gilas squad, led by Jordan Clarkson and Kai Sotto, steamrolling Saudi Arabia, 84-46, to end the fourth window with a 3-3 record and bounce back from a tough loss to Lebanon last Friday in Beirut.
The 40-year-old, who is one of the local ambassadors for Fiba World Cup 2023, also urged the fans to keep on supporting the team as it gears up for next year’s World Cup.
“For me, let’s just keep supporting Gilas because our players and coaches are giving their best for the country, not as individuals. Let’s help and cheer them, win or lose. Let’s give our hearts in loving our national team,” Pingris said in Filipino.