Chot Reyes is out as national team coach as Gilas is reevaluated by SBP

MANILA, Philippines (FIRST UPDATE) – The Gilas Pilipinas basketball program that has represented the country in international competitions over the past few years will undergo significant changes from the SBP (Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas) as national team head coach Chot Reyes has been relieved of his duties, Spin.PH reported on Thursday, October 30

SBP President Manny V. Pangilinan plans on forming a selection committee with the task of finding a new head coach and composing a team with new roster members.

Per Richard Dy of Spin.ph:

“I have likewise met Mr. Pangilinan after talking and consulting with all the (PBA) team owners and relay to Mr. Pangilinan the comments, observation and inputs of team owners,” PBA Commissioner Atty. Chito Salud said on Thursday following a board meeting at the PBA office in Quezon City.

“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.

Speaking with Rappler, Gilas team manager Butch Antonio says the team won’t be disbanded but that changes are coming.

“More like it’s under review,” said Antonio, who claims that Reyes may still be considered for the coaching position when the SBP board meets to begin the selection process.

According to an SBP official, the Gilas name, which has been in use since 2009, will be retained.

Reyes took over as head coach of the national basketball team in 2012, leading the team to a silver finish at the FIBA Asia Championship in 2013 to qualify the Philippines  for the FIBA World Cup for the first time since 1978.

Gilas finished the competition 1-4, losing competitive matches against Argentina, Croatia, Greece and Puerto Rico before overcoming Senegal in overtime for their first FIBA World Cup win since 1974.

Addled by injuries to Jayson Castro and Marc Pingris, plus missing the services of the ineligible Andray Blatche, Gilas failed to capitalize on their momentum at the Incheon Asian Games in September. After a promising win against India, Gilas suffered tough consecutive defeats to Iran, Qatar, and South Korea to be eliminated from semifinal contention.

The Philippines wound up seventh place, their worst finish since professional players were allowed to suit up for the national team.

(RELATED: Chot Reyes takes blame for disappointing Asian Games stint)

The selection committee that will be formed will have the objective of “searching and appointing the national team’s new coach, as well as the formation of the new pool of Gilas players,” said Salud.

According an SBP press release, “Elite tournaments like the FIBA Asia Qualifying, World Cup, Asian Games, which involve PBA players, will go through the committee composed of SBP Board members from the PBA, PBA D-League and the SBP.” – Rappler.com