His future still unclear, Chot Reyes says Gilas has talent for better tomorrow

Gilas Pilipinas coach Chot Reyes during the Fiba World Cup classification game against South Sudan. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines–Gilas Pilipinas’ dry spell in the 2023 Fiba World Cup continued Thursday night, and on the heels of yet another botched comeback, national coach Chot Reyes confronted questions about his tenure.

“With regards to my personal future, that really is at the hands of the federation,” he said late Thursday after Gilas Pilipinas’ 87-68 loss at the hands of South Sudan at Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.

“They (basketball leaders) know my feelings. We’re in constant communication,” he added.

Reyes was reappointed as national coach and Gilas Pilipinas program director on Jan. 31, 2022, replacing Tab Baldwin. His third stint with the National team has been saddled by a disappointing ninth-place finish in the Asia Cup, a gut-wrenching loss in the finalé of the 2022 Southeast Asian Games in Vietnam, and a persisting manpower crisis.

That led to a vile fan reception that has followed him and this edition of the national team heading into the World Cup.

Most of that vitriol has been directed at Reyes, who said he could not turn down the offer to coach Gilas Pilipinas.

“You all know that I already retired and left this job several times. And when I was asked to come back, I could not turn my back on the call of service for flag and country,” he said.

While Reyes said nothing definitive in his time at Gilas’ helm, he did speak about the program’s future.

“What we have right now is only what’s in front of us. Like I’ve said, even apart from me, the future of these guys, the core you have right now is a very young core,” he said.

“Kai (Sotto), AJ (Edu), Dwight (Ramos). Even Rhenz (Abando) and Jamie (Malonzo)—are in their early 20s, and some are in their mid-20s,” he went on. “There’s a nucleus of guys here that has a bright future ahead of them.”