Chot explains withdrawal
National basketball team coach Chot Reyes sent this text to PBA officer-in-charge Sonny Barrios the other day – “I just faxed to your office a letter to Chairman (Tony) Chua informing the PBA Board of my decision to withdraw from the commissionership selection process. Thanks for even considering me.”
Reyes, 44, was in a short list of four candidates to succeed Noli Eala as commissioner and now joins Ricky Palou, Arben Santos, Carlo Singson and Norman Black among those who declined their nominations.
The only remaining candidates in the race are lawyer Chito Salud, business executive Lambert Ramos and SBP executive director Patrick Gregorio. They will be summoned to make a presentation of their plans before the PBA Board on Monday. At the end of the presentations, the candidates will be grilled individually with the voting for the next commissioner to follow immediately. A two-thirds vote of the Board is required to settle the issue. Since Purefoods is not a voting franchise, only nine votes will be counted.
Reyes said he decided to back out after consulting friends and family.
“First of all, I was surprised I was even nominated,” said Reyes yesterday. “I don’t even know who nominated me. I was informed of the nomination on the last day of applications for the position. I wanted to think about it before deciding whether or not to pursue. My inclination was to decline right away but I thought it would be better to think about it first before declining than to decline it first before thinking about it.”
Reyes said in the off-chance he is chosen as commissioner, it would mean ending his coaching career.
“My hope is to remain the national coach,” said Reyes. “I still dream of the Olympics, of bringing glory to our country in the sport we all love. The dream hasn’t ended. The dream is still alive. That’s the main reason why I eventually decided to withdraw.”
What’s fuzzy in Reyes’ mind is his status as national coach. Since the
“The national team isn’t practicing anymore,” said Reyes. “I’m now involved in the SBP’s nation-wide coaching program.”
As a San Miguel consultant for basketball, Reyes provides analysis of how the group’s teams are performing and what they should do to improve.
“At the end of the first round of the PBA conference, I submitted a written report to Mr. (Robert) Non with my analysis based on statistics, intangibles, objectives and expectations,” said Reyes. “I don’t meddle in the coaching side because the coaches are all very competent. The San Miguel group has treated me very well. I’m grateful for all the support and opportunity the group has given me and the teams I’ve coached, particularly the national team.”
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Don’t fail to send in your entries to our annual year-end contest-“Giving is Receiving.” The deadline of submission is Tuesday, Dec. 18. So you have five days to send in as many entries as you want.
It’s easy to join. Just write down your answers to four questions on a slip of paper then send it, with an original clipping of a STAR masthead (front page, showing the date of newspaper) to “A Sporting Chance” Giving is Receiving, STAR Sports, R. Oca Jr. and Railroad Streets, Port Area, Manila.
Each slip of paper or entry must be accompanied by a STAR masthead – one entry, one masthead (no xerox copies, please). Write your name, age, occupation (if student, what level, year, course, school), address, telephone number and in 50 words or less, what you think must be done to improve the state of Philippine sports.
The four questions are: 1. What is the moniker of superflyweight boxing sensation A. J. Banal? 2. When is Manny Pacquiao’s birthday? 3. Who was the MVP of the PBA last season? 4. Name the Big Three leading the charge for the Boston Celtics in the NBA this season.
We will pick 25 winners and prizes will be awarded in the STAR office at
First prize winner will receive P15,000 in cold cash, courtesy of Harbour Centre team owner Mikee Romero, and a truckload of other goodies contributed by sponsors and friends.
Here is a partial list of the prizes we’ve collected so far-from Dioceldo Sy of DSS Productmakers, 20 Noosa shoes and slippers, 24 bottles of Ever Bilena lotion, 24 bottles of Ever Bilena spray cologne; from San Miguel Corp, 20 gift bags of canned goods; from the Philippine Sports Commission, 50 basketballs and 20 volleyballs; from Prosolutions, yoga mat, shirts, sling bags, travel bag and cardholders of ESPN STAR Sports; from Tony Aldeguer of the ALA gym, nine T-shirts and two boxing key chains; from Arleen Lindo of Chris Sports, five Nike shoe bags, five Nike soccer balls and five Nike pairs of socks.
Other prizes are being donated by
You can’t afford to miss this Christmas contest of contests. It’s our way of saying thank you and Merry Christmas.
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