After four years, Chot Reyes is back with Gilas PIlipinas.
Reyes has been named as the Philippine Men’s National Basketball Team head coach moving forward after Tab Baldwin has stepped down from his post as both head coach and program director.
Baldwin, who has been the program director of Gilas Men from the 2021 FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers, cited that he will be focusing on his responsibilities with the Ateneo Blue Eagles in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines.
The American-Kiwi head coach also recommended to the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas, headed by chairman emiritus Manny V. Pangilinan and president Al Panlilio, that Reyes be his successor.
Photo from FIBA Asia Cup
“Chot is the sensible choice to take over Gilas coaching because he is very familiar with the program,” said Pangilinan.
“He also has solid experience in international competition and FIBA games.”
“Considering the high-level performance expected of Gilas, we decided to go with the coach who brought the country back to the FIBA World Cup in 2014,” added Panlilio.
Back in 2012-14, Reyes was named head coach of the national team, steering the Philippines to the 2014 FIBA World Cup.
After taking a two-year break, Reyes was brought back to the program, coaching the team in the 2019 FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers.
Reyes resigned from his post after the Gilas-Australia brawl that happened back on July 2, 2018.
He returned to coaching last year, returning home to TNT. Reyes led TNT to the top of the 2021 PBA Philippine Cup.
A few months later, he is back with the national team.
Photo by PBA Images
“It will be an honor to serve the country again,” said Reyes, a nine-time PBA champion coach and five-time coach of the year.
“It is a big challenge pero hindi ko matatalikuran ang tawag ng bayan.”
Reyes will make his return to FIBA competition during the first window of the 2023 FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers from February 24-28. The Philippines faces South Korea twice, India, and New Zealand.
The federation, meanwhile, remains grateful to Baldwin for his contributions to the program over the past two years.
