Gilas taps former Ivory Coast coach for help

MANILA, Philippines – Gilas Pilipinas coach Chot Reyes is leaving nothing to chance as he enlisted the services of another experienced coach in an effort to have all bases covered for the national team in their bid to get out of the first round of the FIBA World Cup.

Reyes, who is already getting a lot of help from former New Zealand head coach Tab Baldwin, has also added well-known Spanish coach Natxo Lezcano to his coaching staff as a team consultant.

Reyes and Lezcano met during the FIBA Africa Championships last year and was the man responsible in helping Gilas set up their camp in Vitoria, Spain with Spanish agent Igor Crespo.

Lezcano has led Ivory Coast to a fourth place finish at Afrobasket in Madagascar in 2011 losing the bronze and spot in the FIBA Olympic qualifiers to Nigeria, 69-76.

Lezcano has been giving Reyes an extra hand especially in preparing for Senegal, whom the national team has a chance of beating in the first round.

Coaching staff mtg while enjoying a cup of hot choco http://t.co/XjZODqzDkK

— Chot Reyes (@coachot) August 7, 2014

Reyes admitted to the Philippine press before leaving for the Miami training camp two weeks back that he is going to get help and he’s not coy about it.

“I made sure that I have ample European, African and South American help in this competition. Hindi naman ako nahihiyang humingi ng tulong, pinuntahan ko ‘tong mga coaches na ‘to, tinutukan ko sila, humingi talaga ako ng tulong,” Reyes told the press before leaving the country with the national team.

Gilas Pilipinas will need at least two wins to qualify for the second round where they might play the top seed, which could be the home team Spain.

Gilas will start its campaign against Croatia on Aug. 30, Greece on Aug. 31, Argentina on Sept. 1, Puerto Rico on Sept. 3 and a potential knockout match against Senegal on Sept. 4.

After winning two tuneup games in Miami, Gilas will resume with nine more games in Spain and France which will start against a selection of Spanish pro league ACB on Sunday.