Chot Reyes can’t help but be proud of what his son Josh has accomplished in his young coaching career.
In less than 10 years, the young tactician has been an assistant coach in Far Eastern University, TNT, and Gilas Pilipinas. He was also the head coach of Batang Gilas during the 2018 FIBA Under-18 Asian Championship.
“Of course, I’m very proud and you know he has paid his dues. Of course, he had a good entry, an easier entry than most into the league because of me but in the end the name he has made, he’s made a name for himself,” Coach Chot told Coaches Unfiltered, presented by SMART Sports and supported by Mighty Sports and Choi Garden.
“He has put in the effort, like I said he’s paid his dues, he’s gone around, he’s learned so much more than I picked up.”
Coach Josh steered the Kai Sotto-led squad to a fourth-place finish in the Asia Cup to punch the country’s ticket to the Under-19 World Cup — the Philippines’ first in 40 years.
However, Josh’s stint with Batang Gilas as head coach lasted for just a few months.
In the wake of the Gilas-Australia brawl last July 2018, Josh was ousted as the youth team’s mentor due to a “reshuffling” in the entire structure of the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas.
But Chot could not help but lament what happened to his son.
“Hindi maiwasan na… And I think that was very unfair to him that a lot of the things that happened to me, naapektuhan din siya.
“It affected him negatively as well which is really unfair because I thought he did a really good job in that seventeen-under team he coached but again, these decisions… They are not up to me,” expressed Chot.
Chot, who had to leave the game in August of 2018, added that one of the reasons he had to retire from coaching professional basketball so that Josh can create his own name.
“I think one of the good things that I’m away from basketball is he is able to make his own name and for me, that was one of the reasons attracting retirement from professional basketball — to allow Josh to be Josh Reyes.”
But just like Gilas, Josh has bounced back.
Since then, the younger Reyes has become a basketball analyst in the ASEAN Basketball League and eventually made his return to TNT as an assistant coach to Mark Dickel and Bong Ravena.
Eventually, Chot knows that Josh will one day get another crack at having his own team. Josh just has to find the right blend of being both patient and assertive.
“I’m very, very proud and I hope he continues. He just has to apply himself, be patient, and continue learning. Just wait for the right time and just be ready for opportunities that has come his way.”
