MANILA – Ilonggo guard Kiefer Ravena defended Gilas Pilipinas head coach Vincent “Chot” Reyes, who received jeering from the Filipino fans before their 90-83 loss to Italy in the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup on Tuesday night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
According to the Shiga Lakes guard, it was very unfortunate for the home crowd to react that way to Reyes considering that the Philippines is the host of the world basketball event.
“It was not the first timed,” Ravena said. “Instead of jeering, we have to use this crowd as an advantage, not a disadvantage ‘di ba? Yun naman ang pinakarason kung bakit natin dinala ‘tong event na ‘to dito.”
“May mga opinyon talaga sila, pero ‘di mababago ‘yung energy, ‘yung vibe, tsaka ‘yung paninindigan ko na maglalaro para kay Coach Chot na nandito kami ngayon sa World Cup. I’m sure those other 11 guys will vouch for that as well,” he added.
Rhenz Abando, who was used sparingly by Reyes in the past few games until given lengthy time against Italy, echoed Ravena’s statement as he hopes the Filipino crowd will support them in their last two games.
“Tao lang tayo, nagkakamali. Hindi ito ‘yung right time para sisihin kung sino man. Pinaglalalaban nya (Reyes) ‘yung bansa natin. Pinaglalaban namin. So dapat, sinusuportahan nyo pa rin siya kasi ayun nga, nagkakamali rin tayo,” Abando said.
“Kailangan namin ma-flip yung script na gawin namin siyang advantage kesa kabahan kami, yung hindi kami nakakapaglaro nang maayos kasi naririnig namin kung ano yung ginagawa ng crowd,” he added.
Filipino-American guard Jordan Clarkson of Utah Jazz, for his part, also felt weird that the Filipino fans are showing disrespect to Reyes while playing foreign teams in the World Cup.
“It is a little weird, especially us hosting and being the home country,” Clarkson said. “I don’t know much about the situation. Feel a little weird. Kind of out of the ordinary, honestly.”
Reyes has been under fire from the national men’s basketball team’s fans following their consecutive defeats the past few years in some tournaments, including the Southeast Asian Games in 2022./PN
