Insists teams supply players: PBA wants say on Phl coach

SEOUL, Korea – Some PBA officials are now pushing for the return of the old procedure in the selection of the national head coach in the aftermath of Gilas Pilipinas’ seventh-place finish in the 17th Asian Games basketball competition here.

With players coming from the pro league, these PBA officials deem it proper to have some say in the selection process as they did in the past, in particular in naming Chot Reyes as mentor of the Phl team in the 2007 FIBA Asia Championship in Tokushima, Japan.

“Before, aspira for the position applied for it. They drew their plan and appeared before us for an interview. At least we had some part, and I think rightly so since we supplied the players,” said a governor.  

Back then, Reyes interestingly won the position over fellow candidates Joel Banal and Yeng Guiao.

Failing to lead Team Phl past the group plays in Japan, Reyes had to relinquish the job upon their return in Manila. Taking over the rein in the next Asian meet was Guiao.

In 2012, Reyes reassumed the position at the end of the term of Serbian coach Rajko Toroman.

During the PBA planning session, many other thoughts and ideas were put on the table which PBA commissioner Chito Salud intends to bring up in his meeting with the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas leadership.

Salud stressed though that the national program would still come from the national cage federation.

“(The national program) was brought up, and we had a very good discussion as to the points and inputs that the teams want the Office of the Commissioner to bring up when I meet with the SBP leadership,” said Salud.

“At this time I will not discuss these inputs until after the matter has been fully resolved,” Salud also said. “We will announce all these in due time. Please allow us, the consultation process that we want to undergo.”

The PBA commissioner felt the national team program is in a very critical period after Gilas Pilipinas failed to live up to expectations and worse, sank to the lowest finish ever by a Phl team in the quadrennial meet.

“We want all stakeholders to be able to give their inputs and we want all of them to be heard before a final consensus and a specific course of action is finally pushed through,” Salud said.

No PBA selection had finished outside the Top Four in the Asiad.

In 1990 in Beijing, coach Robert Jaworski and his team led by Ramon Fernandez, Samboy Lim, Allan Caidic, Benjie Paras and Alvin Patrimonio win the silver medal. In 1994 in Hiroshima, the Norman Black-mentored national quintet placed fourth then the Centennial team of coach Tim Cone improved to third place in 1998 in Bangkok. Four years later in Busan, coach Jong Uichico’s squad narrowly missed the finale before settling for fourth place.

Despite the Incheon debacle, the SBP leadership, however, is not turning its back on Gilas.

“We report our results in Korea heads bowed in sadness but not in shame. That said we take pride in all that Gilas has reached thus far,” Pangilinan has said on his Twitter account.

“The Asian Games are now done. Time to look ahead; plan for FIBA Asia next year in China, the winner qualifies for the 2016 Olympics,” Pangilinan also tweeted. “We must stay focused on our goal, and neither despair nor get deterred by the letdown in the Asian Games.”