Improving Gilas still ‘work in progress,’ says Chot Reyes

BOCAUE—Coach Chot Reyes is thrilled to see the progress of Gilas Pilipinas during their campaign in the Fiba World Cup Asian Qualifiers.

But Reyes admits there is still a lot of work to be done for the national team heading to the World Cup.

The Philippines finished qualifying with a 91-90 loss against Jordan on Monday at the Philippine Arena, dropping to 6-4 in Group E.

“Working in the process, I guess, is the best way to put it,” said Reyes.

“We started very, very, in a bad place. Remember, I was appointed and then we immediately rolled the window, what, two weeks after or three weeks after,” he said.

Reyes returned as head coach in February when Tab Baldwin stepped down, winning the first game of the window against India, 88-64, but was dominated by New Zealand, 88-63, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum last February 27.

The national team was then handled by Nenad Vucinic as Reyes focused on TNT while the already depleted roster, made up of B.League and UAAP players, suffered another defeat at the hands of the Tall Blacks, 106-60, before returning home. against the Indians, 79-63.

Outside of the qualifying tournament, Gilas experienced disappointment as its 33rd Asian Games gold medal was captured in Hanoi, Vietnam and its worst finish in the Asian Cup in 15 years last July.

“We had several tournaments, and I will be the first to admit that we really did not do well, and I am always responsible and accountable,” said Reyes.

Gilas got a big boost in August with Jordan Clarkson and Kai Sotto joining PBA stars like Scottie Thompson and Jamie Malonzo as coach Tim Cone ramped up the national program.

With Clarkson leading the way, the Philippines split two games after falling to Lebanon in Beirut, 85-81, and whipping Saudi Arabia, 84-46, at the Mall of Asia Arena in the first game to keep the Utah Jazz on Philippine soil.

The Philippines extended its winning streak to four games, swept a pair of road games in the November window against Jordan and Saudi Arabia and beat Lebanon, 107-96, in Justin Brownlee’s first Gilas game at the Philippine Arena.

Gilas failed to end their qualifying campaign on Monday as Brownlee’s 41-point outburst came to naught after losing to Jordan.

“When we get the program together and get the players, and more importantly, the training time, then I’m sure you all will see that there is an improvement in the way the team has developed and continues to develop,” Reyes. said.

Dwight Ramos was the only player to play all of Gilas’ games in the Asian Qualifiers as the national team had to use a different composition in all windows. And for Reyes, it’s a good gauge to see what his roster might look like to host the World Cup in August.

“I say it’s a work in progress because we’re still in that development stage, and in the end, this is what we can do from that window. Knowing the players, knowing their behavior outside the field, knowing what they can do and how they fit in,” Reyes, who will go to Japan to coach TNT in the East Asian League, said. “I always talk about fit in two ways. How they fit the way we want to play, and how they fit each other. There are always two types of fit, and the third is physical fit. Fitness, if you have an illness or you have something, you’re not going to be in the lineup. So we want to get the fittest players.”

Reyes also said there is no guaranteed spot for Gilas’ World Cup squad.

With the qualifiers now over, the national team will now focus on their bid for redemption at the Cambodia SEA Games in May.

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