Chot Reyes wants an intact Gilas five–if possible

Chot Reyes. Nuki Sabio/FIBA Asia

Chot Reyes finally had the time for a round of golf for the first time since the first week of May. And he’s still in a mood to talk about Gilas Pilipinas’ magical run in the recent 27th Fiba Asia Championship.

“Anyone who has seen me coach for a long time knows that I really don’t call timeouts that often,” Reyes said, referring to why he allowed Chinese Taipei to creep so close before calling a ceasefire. “If at all, maybe the mistake I made was pulling out Marcus (Douthit) at the start of the fourth quarter.”

The Filipinos, who eventually won the silver medal and earned a berth to the 2014 Fiba World Cup, blew a 13-point lead at the start of the fourth and lost, 84-79, to the Taiwanese.

“And another thing, you have to understand that I was not coaching a game,” he continued. “I was coaching a tournament, and Marcus needed that rest. Against South Korea, I was coaching a game, that’s why I shuffled men often. Because I knew if we didn’t survive them, patay na tayo sa (we’re dead against) Taipei in the battle for third.”

Reyes also said that if he could have his way, he would keep his roster intact for the World Cup.

“But you have to be prepared because someone might be injured or suffer a huge dip in their games,” he said. “But of course, these 12 have the inside track.”