Chot Reyes sees bright future for Gilas program despite failed World Cup bid

Gilas Pilipinas heart Kai Sotto scores in opposition to China within the Fiba World Cup. -MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.internet

(Final of a collection)

Even after a baffling Fiba World Cup homestand, former nationwide coach Chot Reyes is steadfast in his perception that the Gilas Pilipinas program is sound.

Structurally, at the very least.

“The muse has been laid. The gamers are there, the scale is there,” he instructed the Inquirer on Wednesday, referring to the dual towers of Kai Sotto and AJ Edu.

Reinforcing that perception is the truth that the 21-year-old Sotto and the 23-year-old Edu are surrounded by a bevy of noteworthy gamers that may develop in quantity in just a few years.

“If Kai and AJ proceed to make themselves out there, we’ve got a really robust, good, younger core of Rhenz (Abando) … Dwight (Ramos) who’re each 25 years outdated,” Reyes identified. “After which up and coming from [the] Below-17, Below-18 lessons: Mason Amos, Alex Konov. We’ve got guards out there, too, like Elijah Williams.”

After which there’s the nation’s main skilled league that continues to lend its gamers to the nationwide trigger.

“So there’s a core, after which the PBA continues to additionally make its core out there. I believe the muse has been laid,” Reyes, who has stepped down as nationwide coach, mentioned. “Structurally, we’re OK. We simply must proceed working collectively.”

All that optimism comes regardless of what he deemed a “failure” for the nationwide squad, which missed its targets of successful two video games within the world showcase and qualifying outright to the 2024 Paris Olympics. However whether or not or not that optimism might be sufficient for this system to be actually profitable is one other dialog altogether.

Alternative

Reyes felt that this World Cup was a chance to showcase this system’s strengths, particularly when it got here to having the best gamers for the nationwide group. However just a few unlucky occasions bought in the best way.

“[Player availability] shouldn’t have been an issue as a result of everybody made sacrifices for this World Cup. The PBA (opened its pool of gamers), we bought the gamers in Japan and Korea early. However we simply couldn’t do something in regards to the availability of Jordan Clarkson,” he mentioned.

And talking of Clarkson, Reyes mentioned that the Philippines is inherently at a drawback due to the Utah Jazz star’s lack of ability to play as a neighborhood.

“Lugi talaga tayo. The [Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas] has been making an attempt to speak to Fiba about it for the longest time as a result of different groups have [players who have] no [ethnic heritage] in any respect,” he mentioned.

Clarkson traces his Filipino lineage by way of his grandmother Marcelina Tullao Kingsolver, who hails from Bacolor city in Pampanga province. However that, together with an Asian Video games stint from 5 years in the past, was not sufficient to persuade the worldwide physique to permit the naturalized guard to play as native in Fiba occasions.

“I believe they need to enable Jordan to play as a neighborhood as a result of he has Filipino blood, and it’s very clear, after which enable us to get a 6-foot-10 American or no matter (as a naturalized participant). I believe that may actually go a great distance for this,” mentioned Reyes.

Chris Newsome, a Filipino-American guard who was first recruited by Norman Black to play for the nationwide group, has been deemed ineligible as a neighborhood as he by no means gained a Philippine passport earlier than he was 16. He lastly bought an exemption in 2022, permitting him to go well with up alongside Clarkson and one other naturalized participant in Justin Brownlee.

A Clarkson clearance would’ve allowed the Philippines to subject Brownlee and even Ange Kouame within the World Cup, offering the squad versatility.

Finest recourse

For now, this system’s greatest recourse is to maintain counting on the absolute best expertise. One thing that Reyes was cornered into doing for many of his time with the nationwide group.

“It’s simply participant availability,” he mentioned when requested to simplify the foundation reason for Gilas’ issues that bled into the World Cup.

“However participant availability is [a] ticklish [issue]. On one finish, it’s going to be a mandate of the nationwide federation [or] the leagues,” he mentioned. “[On the other end], will the gamers wish to (go well with up)? Or not?”

Of the 21 names recognized to coach for the World Cup, two begged off. Carl Tamayo mentioned he intends to concentrate on strengthening his knee, whereas Jordan Heading prioritized rehabilitating his again. Poy Erram was a part of the coaching camp in Estonia and Lithuania however was later dominated out for the ultimate part of the preparations after going by way of an extended overdue knee surgical procedure.

Then there was Justine Baltazar—a two-way ahead and a fan favourite—who turned down Gilas’ two invitations based on Reyes.

“Participant availability will cowl expertise and preparation. [But] it’s a must to be out there for an ample time the group requires. You can not say that you just’ll be out there one week to go or two weeks,” Reyes mentioned with a sigh.

“If we began coaching at full power as early as July 25, that may’ve made a fantastic distinction in our play,” he mentioned.

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