MANILA – Vincent “Chot” Reyes is making his return as head coach of Gilas Pilipinas national men’s basketball team less than a month to the first window of the 2023 FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers.
Reyes, who recently steered TNT Tropang Giga to the 2021 PBA Philippine Cup crown, is taking over the spot of Thomas “Tab” Baldwin, who will be focusing on the Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles in the UAAP.
“It will be an honor to serve the country again,” said Reyes, a nine-time PBA champion coach and five-time coach of the year. “It is a big challenge pero hindi ko matatalikuran ang tawag ng bayan.”
Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas chairman emeritus Manny V. Pangilinan, for his part, said Reyes is the logical choice to take over the coaching chores for the national men’s basketball team.
“Chot is the sensible choice to take over Gilas coaching because he is very familiar with the program,” said Pangilinan. “He also has solid experience in international competition and FIBA games.”
SBP president Al Panlilio, for his part, said that it was Baldwin himself whom recommended the return of Reyes to the Gilas Pilipinas effective on Tuesday since he previously handled the national team.
“Considering the high-level performance expected of Gilas, we decided to go with the coach who brought the country back to the FIBA World Cup in 2014,” Panlilio said in a statement.
Reyes was first named as head coach of the Gilas Pilipinas in 2012 and he steered the country to the 2014 FIBA World Cup. After taking a two-year break, Reyes was brought back to the program, coaching the team in the 2019 FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers.
The 58-year-old Reyes then tendered his resignation after the Gilas-Australia brawl that happened back on July 2, 2018. He then returned to the coaching gig last year with the Tropang Giga.
Reyes will make his return to FIBA competition during the first window of the 2023 FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers from February 24-28. The Philippines faces South Korea twice, India, and New Zealand./PN
