Chot bats for Uichico, Black, Baldwin

MANILA, Philippines – For the continuity of the Gilas Pilipinas program, former national coach Chot Reyes believes anyone among Jong Uichico, Norman Black and Tab Baldwin is a good choice to hold the rein for the national team competing in the 2015 FIBA Asia Championship in Wuhan, China.

Reyes also gives his nod on Tim Cone and Robert Jaworski if they’re given enough time to prepare the team that eyes qualification to the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

As for himself, Reyes said he’s retired from coaching since he requested the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas search and screening committee that his name be excluded for consideration for the short list of head coach candidates to be presented to SBP president Manny V. Pangilinan.

He stressed he “stepped aside” and was not fired from his job during his guesting at the Bottomline by Boy Abunda over ABS-CBN 2 early Sunday morning.

In his first TV appearance since Gilas Pilipinas’ dismal performance in the Incheon Asian Games, Reyes bared everything that had happened in a no-holds-barred one-on-one interview with the TV host.

In the end, he said he’s done coaching and he batted for the continuity of the Gilas program that keyed the country’s return stint in the world championship in Seville, Spain in August.

He said Uichico, Black and Baldwin would do a good job since they’ve been part of the program or part of his staff from the 2013 FIBA Asia Championship where the Philippines clinched qualifying ticket to the World Cup with its second-place finish behind Iran.

But he didn’t limit his choices to the three.

“If given the time to prepare, coach Tim Cone would do a great job,” he said.

As Abunda mentioned the name of Robert Jaworski, Reyes said: Oh, I love Robert Jaworski. In fact, I’d invited him couples of time to talk to the team. Also if given time to prepare, he would do a good job. Actually, we have a lot of good coaches. All we need is time.”

Reyes talked about his benching of Marcus Douthit versus South Korea, their “own goal” against Kazakhstan, the Gilas philosophies, the long journey, the criticisms he got for the Asiad debacle and his family.

He admitted hurt by the bashing, not from the social media but to “those who supposed to know the sport.”

“I’m hurt, I’m disappointed but I’m at peace,” he said.

Still, he said he won’t change his two-year service to the country for anything.

He also talked his UAAP days where he once made the Mythical Five with Jerry Codinera, Allan Caidic, Pido Jarencio and Glenn Capacio, and his successful PBA coaching, winning titles with Purefoods, Coca-Cola and Talk n Text.

Asked to describe Chot Reyes at the end of the show, he answered: “a winner.”