Gilas Pilipinas head coach Chot Reyes broke his silence regarding the suspension and fined slapped on him by the International Basketball Federation, Thursday.
Reyes was handed a one-game ban and a fine of CHF 10,000 (PHP 534,773.27) as he was deemed to have incited unsportsmanlike behavior.
Last July 2, a video surfaced online showing Reyes trying to rile up his players as they faced a huge deficit against Australia. He was caught saying, “put them on their ass”.
FIBA did not take this lightly, even if Reyes has gone on record to say that he was just rallying his troops.
And even after FIBA’s investigation, he continues to keep the same stance.
“The SBP has released its statement on the FIBA decision, and I stand with our national federation in respecting FIBA’s findings,” he said in a statement.
“I have never given instructions to hurt nor incite unsportsmanlike behavior.
“In my 20 years as head coach in the PBA and seven years at the helm of Gilas, I have never been involved in any such incident,” he asserted.
Still, he deeply regrets what happened during a day that will forever live in the dark history of Philippine basketball. On behalf of Gilas, he apologized to every Filipino and the basketball community.
“I deeply regret what happened last July 2, and again apologize together with our players and staff.
“As we work to put all this behind us, we reiterate our commitment to serve our flag,” he closed.
Reyes will serve his suspension when Gilas goes to Iran on September 13 to open their second round campaign in the 2019 FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers.
