As Chot Reyes was jeered by the crowd on Saturday evening, he looked at them and clapped.
It was the last time he would see the fans as part of the Philippine men’s national basketball team.
“Through all the preparation, I always said judge us on this performance in the World Cup,” said Reyes.
“Obviously we did not perform. I take full accountability and because of that I think it is time for me to step aside.”
Chot Reyes stepped down from his post as Gilas Pilipinas head coach on Saturday, exactly 19 months after being re-appointed to the job he last held in 2018.
Reyes, 59, was firm in his decision even before the Philippines’ final game in the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 against China, which the hosts won 96-75.
“I hate using the word resign because I am not a quitter,” he said.
Fresh off winning the 2021 PBA Philippine Cup with TNT, Reyes received approval from the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas to lead the Philippines in the World Cup after Tab Baldwin suggested that the federation consider Reyes as he will ‘step aside’ for the first window of the Qualifiers. Baldwin was completely removed from his position.
Inheriting a team he was unfamiliar with, Reyes struggled in his first two big tournaments with Gilas.
The Philippines settled for silver in the 31st Southeast Asian Games. A few months later, Gilas finished ninth in the Asia Cup, its worst result since 2007.
As early as June of the previous year, there were calls for him to resign, which he did, but it was denied by the SBP.
There was hope when Gilas performed relatively well in the Qualifiers and won gold in the 32nd SEA Games. However, Reyes, who also served as the program director of the men’s basketball program, struggled to secure high-quality tune-up matches during the World Cup preparation.
This resulted in a disastrous finish in the World Cup, which the country hosted, ending with a 1-4 record, completely missing the checklist that included an outright qualification for the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.
Before his third stint with the national team, Reyes steered the Philippines to a silver finish in the 2013 Asia Cup, which secured the country’s ticket to the World Cup a year later.
Now, the SBP will have to search for a head coach for the 19th Asian Games later this month.
