MANILA – If he can have his way, Gilas Pilipinas head coach Vincent “Chot” Reyes wants a developmental team to represent the country in the next Southeast Asian Games competition.
Reyes said putting together a pool of young players that will prepare exclusively for the SEA Games will be beneficial to the overall Gilas program while also enhancing the country’s chances of winning another gold medal in the biennial meet.
“I think this is for the good of Philippine basketball. I think we should bring younger players to the Southeast Asian Games,” said Reyes, who also serves as the program director of Gilas Pilipinas.
The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas has opted to send PBA players to represent the country in the SEA Games men’s basketball where they capture gold in 2019 and 2023 and a silver medal in 2022.
Reyes also suggested a longer preparation time for the developmental team for the SEA Games, unlike in the recent Gilas Pilipinas gold medal team that only practiced for around a week.
“Hopefully, we can get together earlier, and put a team to compete in the next one in Thailand (in 2025),” said Reyes. “It’s the SBP that’s going to make that determination. That’s just my opinion.”
SBP and Gilas Pilipinas have been criticized by Filipino basketball fans through the years for their penchant of forming and finalizing its squad just a few weeks into the competition.
Reyes also reiterated he is stepping away from coaching the national men’s basketball team in the SEA Games as he wants another coach to handle the team together with the younger player.
“Win or lose, this is my last SEA Games,” Reyes said. “I promise I’ll never coach here in the SEA Games. At least, I was able to go out with a gold medal.”
Reyes, however, will still serve as the national men’s basketball team head coach for the Asian Games in China and in the 2023 FIBA World Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City./PN
