The Captain of the Gilas Pilipinas Team

Many still fondly recall how sweet the victory was when Gilas Pilipinas won silver in the regional FIBA tournament last year. This led to a coveted slot in the forthcoming FIBA Basketball World Cup in Seville, Spain this August. This achievement marks the highest international ranking for Philippine basketball in our recent history and for which the nation is proud and grateful. In the midst of all the preparations for the Gilas team as it embarks on its coveted journey to basketball’s pinnacle of glory in the FIBA World Cup, we took the opportunity and privilege to take a few moments of Coach Chot Reyes’ busy schedule to find out how the Gilas Pilipinas squad is shaping up.

“Things are still somewhat rough. We hardly have any preparations. As you know, the PBA Finals is still ongoing. We can’t even get a complete team together. If you take a look at this line-up, there are a couple of cadet players (Kevin Alas, Garvo Lanete) and there are some additions (Global Port forward Jay Washington). We can’t get a full team together,” Coach Chot disclosed.

Evidently, Gilas Pilipinas has to get into practice with new players in its brief preparation for the fifth FIBA Asia Cup happening tomorrow until July 19 in Wuhan, China. However, San Mig Coffee’s Marc Pingris and Rain or Shine’s Jeff Chan, Gabe Norwood, Beau Belga and Paul Lee have all been excused since they would still be playing in the Governors’ Cup finals. This is the balancing act that Coach Chot has to resort to with his new players. “Because we have five of the regular members still playing and we have a tournament already (today), we really have to augment the pool,” he said.

The FIBA Asia Cup in China will serve as Gilas Pilipinas’ warm-up tourney for the World Cup as they will be playing against Jordan, Singapore, Chinese Taipei and Uzbekistan in a one-round-robin in their group with the top two advancing to the cross-over semifinals versus the top two in Group A among China, India, Indonesia, Iran and Japan. From then on, the Gilas players and coaches would hold a training camp in Miami, Florida before proceeding to a mini-invitational tournament in France for tune-up games against France, Australia and Ukraine. There will also be tune-up matches in Italy against Team Euskadi, the Angolans, the Dominican Republic team and the Egyptians before the Gilas team proceeds to Seville, Spain for the tournament proper.

Looking at the road ahead and the grueling work and endurance tests that his boys have to undergo for a creditable and memorable participation in the FIBA World Cup, Coach Chot had this to say: “Of course, there’s still going to be the pressure. But when you take a look at it, we have really nothing to lose coming into this tournament. All we really need to do is go out and play hard and see what happens because nobody is really giving us a chance here. And you know, that’s a good thing. We can just come out and play.”

What makes it all worthwhile, according to him, is the honor and prestige that our participation gives to the country and to Philippine basketball: “We are very proud and honored to be part of it. (It has been) 40 years since the last time we played in the world stage.” 

As to how he feels about his role as coach and father figure to his boys in the Gilas team, Coach Chot said, “You got to be yourself. I don’t believe there’s any other way to do it. I take a look at all the players’ needs. Everything is taken care of. I make sure we know who we are playing against. And we are able to give the players the best preparation possible in terms of training, tune-up matches, exposure. That’s my job as a coach. I think when you do those things for the players and they know you’re concerned with their welfare, that is what’s important, that’s what matters. That’s what motivates players.”

According to Coach Chot, the fact that we are playing at the FIBA World Cup could also have a positive effect on our young people who are the future and hope of Philippine sports. He stressed, “I hope it is every young Filipino basketball player’s dream to represent the country. It’s sad when we hear about people who turn down the opportunity to represent their country. That is number one. Then after that, they have to be prepared to work hard — really, really hard and make a lot of sacrifice. But most importantly, they have to first make sure that they take care of their schooling, their academics. If you take a look at all our Gilas players here, every single one of them has a college degree. There is no player in Gilas who was not able to finish college. Some in Bacolod, some in Cebu, some in the US, from wherever. Every single one of them got their degree. If you have that, then you can really pursue your dream.”

As to his message to all the basketball fans and to the Filipino people on this remarkable journey that he and the Gilas team will be embarking on in Spain, he said emphatically, “Sabihin ko lang na we will continue to fight ‘til we can fight no more with all our hearts. Laban Pilipinas. Puso.”

(FIBA Asia Cup on TV5: July 12 vs Chinese -Taipei, 5 to 7 p.m.; July 14 vs Singapore, 7 to 9 p.m.; July 15 vs Jordan, 7 to 9 p.m.; July 17 Quarterfinals, 7 to 9 p.m.; July 18 Semifinals, 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. and 9:30 to 11:30 p.m.; and July 19 Finals.)