Chot’s fate in Phl team hangs in balance

Games today (Smart Araneta Coliseum)

4:15 p.m. – Alaska vs Meralco

7 p.m. – Globalport vs Purefoods

MANILA, Philippines - National coach Chot Reyes said he welcomed the decision of the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas to form a committee to plot a short and long term national basketball program, which would include a new coaching staff and a pool of members of the elite men’s team and the cadet men’s team to be trained for the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics and beyond.

Reyes issued the statement in reaction to reports (not in The STAR) that Gilas Pilipinas has been disbanded, adding that he would abide by the decision of the SBP board on whether he should stay as coach or not.

“I have been assured by both SBP president Manny V. Pangilinan and executive director Sonny Barrios that the Gilas program has not been disbanded, and will continue under a regime of broader consultation with the basketball community which I support,” said Reyes.

“As to whether I will continue to be Gilas coach or not depends on the SBP board, under whose mandate I have served since being appointed head coach since 2012,” he also said.

In the same breath, PBA commissioner Chito Salud also said the formation of a special committee that will review the national team program is a proof of a stronger collaborative effort between SBP and the pro league to consolidate the gains of Gilas Pilipinas and chart a strategic course to improve its performance.

 “This process will adopt a systematic, methodical and inclusive approach to ensure that Philippine basketball becomes more competitive internationally both in the short and long term,” said Salud in reaction to the decisions made by the SBP board in a meeting Wednesday.

“The creation of a selection committee will help harness and broaden the support and resources available for SBP within the PBA community and beyond,” Salud also said. “It gives key stakeholders a channel to participate in a dynamic manner in the achievement of our goals.”

The PBA chieftain insisted the Gilas Pilipinas program, which brought the Philippines back to world cage map, will be here to stay. He was present in the recent SBP board meeting.

In its first national board meeting after the FIBA World Cup and the Asian Games, the SBP formed committees to conduct a thorough review of the national team program.

The national cage federation put up search committees that will make a short list of nominees for coaches and pool members of the elite men’s team and the cadet men’s team.

Representatives from the PBA, PBA D-League and SBP make the screening committee for the men’s national team that will compete in the 2015 FIBA Asia Championship which is the regional qualifier for the 2016 Rio Olympics.

Meanwhile, Alaska Milk and Meralco, both off to a strong 2-0 start, clash in an exciting match in the special Halloween presentation of the PBA Philippine Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum tonight.

The Aces and the Bolts dispute the solo lead in their 4:15 p.m. matchup preceding the 7 p.m. tiff between struggling four-peat champ Purefoods Star and Globalport.