SBP-PBA SELECTION COMMITTEE FORMED FOR TEAM PHL COACH, PLAYERS
THE recent Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea may prove to be Chot Reyes’ last stint as head coach of Gilas Pilipinas.
This came after Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas president Manny V. Pangilinan ordered the formation of a selection committee that will be in charge of “appointing the Gilas team’s new head coach along with the formation of a new pool of national players”.
PBA commissioner Chito Salud made the official announcement, just moments after concluding the regular PBA Board of Governors meeting at the pro league’s head office in Libis, Quezon City.
The soft-spoken league commissioner explained that in his meeting with Pangilinan on Tuesday, he basically relayed the “comments, observations and inputs” of all the PBA team owners regarding Gilas Pilipinas, which, after a solid performance in the Fiba World Cup in Spain, slumped to the country’s all-time worst seventh place finish in the Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea.
“These comments and sentiments were received openly by Mr. Pangilinan, and during last Tuesday’s SBP Board of Trustees meeting, in response to the comments and suggestions made by the PBA team owners, the SBP has approved the creation of a committee tasked to select the head coach of the national team and players from the PBA that would form the national pool,” Salud said.
The appointment of a new Gilas coach, along with the formation of a new national pool, in effect, may have ended Reyes’ tenure as national coach, which began in 2012.
Reyes, who succeeded Serbian Rajko Toroman, steered Gilas to the William Jones Cup title in 2012 against Team USA, before leading the national squad to a silver medal finish in last year’s FIBA-Asia men’s championships in Manila.
The second-place finish behind Asian champion Iran already marked the country’s return to the FIBA World Cup for the first time since 1978.
Gilas then punched in the country’s first victory in the FIBA World Cup in 40 years, following its 81-79 overtime win against Senegal at the close of the group stage play.
Reyes’ stock though nosedived after the Philippines plunged to an all-time worst seventh place finish in the Asiad.
Salud said the selection committee intends to meet next month, and hopefully, come up with the new Gilas coach and the naming of the national pool in time for December’s SBP national board meeting.
Salud also reiterated the pro league is willing to adjust the pro league’s 2015 season calendar to give way for Gilas’ early preparation for next year’s FIBA-Asia tournament.
The 2015 Fiba-Asia cage joust will serve as the qualifier for the 2016 Rio Olympics in Brazil. (RD)
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