Robert Jaworski open to coaching Gilas

Naveen Ganglani

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"It is not a bad idea," said Jaworski about the possibility of coaching the Philippine national basketball team
THE BIG J. Robert Jaworski, seen next to NBA legend Allen Iverson, has said he is open to the possibility of coaching the Philippine national basketball team. Photo by Josh Albelda

MANILA, Philippines – Philippine basketball legend Robert Jaworski said on Wednesday, November 5, that he would welcome the opportunity to coach the Philippine men’s national basketball team.

During halftime of the All In charity game between Team PCWorx and Team Gawad Kalinga (coached by NBA legend Allen Iverson), Jaworski was asked if he would accept an offer to coach the senior’s basketball team of the Gilas Pilipinas program, which is currently going through a “re-evaluation” process.

“Yes,” was his response. However, he also said that he would do it “only with the appropriate group,” without going into detail about the specifics.

“It’s going to be a tough job, but I think, taking a serious look at it, it is not a bad idea,” Jaworski told a field of reporters moments prior.

Jaworski has experience coaching the Philippine men’s national basketball team in international competition. During the 1990 Asian Games in Beijing, China, he led the squad to a silver medal finish after falling to the hometown Chinese team, 90-76, in the finals.

But before deciding on a head coach to lead the team in future tournaments, the SBP (Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas), led by their president Mr. Manny V. Pangilinan, will first have to come up with a select committee tasked with making the best decisions in regards to the future of the Gilas program – in particular the pool of players that will be selected and the head coach assigned to lead them.

“Obviously, they have seen certain mistakes or shortcomings that they have to amend,” Jaworski said. “That’s the best possible way: assess the situation and come up with solutions. And always with the positive thought that things will be better.”

The select committee will also have the option to give the head coaching job back to Coach Vincent “Chot” Reyes, who took over the team in 2012 and led them to gold and silver medal finishes in the 2012 Jones Cup and 2013 FIBA Asia Championship, respectively. 

Reyes was also the team’s head coach in the 2014 FIBA World Cup and 2014 Incheon Asian Games. Gilas finished 1-4 at the FIBA World Cup and placed seventh at the Asian Games, the nation’s worst finish yet.

“I’ll just tell you one thing: coaching is not an easy job,” said Jaworski, who aside from coaching the Philippine team in the 1990 also acted as a playing-coach for Ginebra in the PBA in the 1980s. “But most important is, you know, to learn from the mistakes. That’s the best idea.”

Speaking of Ginebra, the franchise is currently 3-1 in the 2014-2015 PBA Philippine Cup conference, and will aim to go 4-1 when they take on the defending champion Purefoods Star Hotshots on Sunday, November 9. 

“They have all the elements to win,” Jaworski said about the current batch of Ginebra players. He also complimented the team’s head coach, Jeff Cariaso, who’s in his second conference with the franchise. “He’s starting to learn the ropes.”

Jaworski also addressed reports that he was offered the opportunity to be the commissioner of the currently ongoing 77th season of the UAAP, which is being hosted by his alma matter University of the East.

“Well, somebody sent the thought to me, but unfortunately I was also traveling. So I couldn’t just sit down and come up with a decision,” he said. 

The job was eventually given to Andy Jao.

But if the opportunity to be a commissioner of a basketball league arises in the future, Jaworski wouldn’t mind welcoming it.

“Fantastic. Fantastic,” he said. “Anything about sports is fine with me.” – Rappler.com

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