San Miguel Beermen import Charles Rhodes, who has been very vocal of his desire to play for Gilas Pilipinas, almost played for Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas in the 2017 FIBA Asia Champions Cup.
Almost.
National team head coach Chot Reyes shared that he himself invited the six-foot-ten American for the Chenzhou, China-hosted tilt set on September 22, but Rhodes, unfortunately, already committed to another deal.
“In-invite ko siya kasi sinabi niya he’s willing to play. So I took him up in his invitation and I invited him,” said the veteran internationalist, Tuesday after Chooks’ presser in Discovery Suites.
“Kaso sabi niya ‘di siya puwede.”
The 2017 Commissioner’s Cup champion reinforcement publicized the 54-year-old tactician’s invitation through his Twitter account Tuesday morning, where he took a screenshot of their conversation that happened yesterday.
After I accepted a offer, I get these messages wanting me to play. I just wish he would had said YES the first time. Philippines ALWAYS❤️?? pic.twitter.com/vQkGh6tiXZ
— Charles Rhodes (@officialcrhodes) September 19, 2017
Still, Reyes appreciates the 10-year journeyman’s willingness to play for the country.
“I just thanked him. I said I appreciated the fact that he was volunteering,” he said.
“For naturalization kasi malabo kasi he’s 32 eh. I dont think mapapayagan yun. But for this tournament, sabi ko ‘yeah if you’re free, why not?'”
But even if his invitation was turned down, the multi-titled coach is not closing his doors on Rhodes, especially if international club tournaments similar to the FIBA Asua Champions Cup will show up anytime sooon.
“If we have club competitions where we can bring an import, why not?”
