The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) is set to undergo significant restructuring within the Gilas Pilipinas Boys program following the resignation of head coach Josh Reyes.
After six years of leading the national youth team, Reyes has decided to step down, marking the end of an era for the program.
“We thank coach Josh for his service to the SBP and to the country in leading the Gilas Youth program for the past six years,” said SBP President Al Panlilio.
“While he leaves his role as head coach, he will still be part of the SBP organization as an assistant to coach Tim Cone for Gilas Pilipinas Men.”
Reyes first joined the Gilas Boys program in 2017 as an assistant coach for the FIBA Under-16 Asian Championship, where his experience and commitment to the team’s growth quickly became apparent.
Known for having no affiliations with any high school or collegiate programs, Reyes earned the trust of many coaches who were confident their players would not be recruited away from their schools.
In 2018, Reyes was given his first head coaching opportunity, leading the Philippines to a strong showing at the Under-18 Asian Championship.
Under his guidance, a team featuring future stars Kai Sotto, AJ Edu, and Dave Ildefonso achieved the country’s best finish in the tournament since 1992, ending a 40-year absence from the Under-19 World Cup.
Following a brief break from the program, Reyes returned to lead the Gilas Boys team once more, tasked with rebuilding the pandemic-affected system.
Despite the challenges, the team secured seventh place in the 2022 Under-16 and sixth in the 2022 Under-18 Asian Championships.
In 2023, Reyes and the Gilas Boys team finally had the preparation they needed.
(C) FIBA.basketball
Starting with a nationwide tryout and five months of training, the team triumphed in the SEABA tournament before embarking on an impressive run in the 2023 Under-16 Asian Championship.
Notably, they beat South Korea and upset Japan to reach the semifinals and secure a spot in the 2024 FIBA Under-17 World Cup in Istanbul, Turkey.
However, misfortune struck when top prospect Kieffer Alas, a member of Asia’s All-Star Five, sustained a knee injury just days before the tournament, contributing to a winless campaign.
The injury curse continued in the 2023 Under-18 Asian Championship, with ace Andy Gemao suffering a hand fracture, resulting in a 10th-place finish for the team.
“The last Under-18 team gave me the ending I didn’t know I needed,” Reyes said. After their loss to Japan, Reyes shared an emotional moment in the dugout with his players, whose World Cup dreams had been dashed.
Despite the heartbreaking outcome, Reyes expressed his gratitude for the team’s effort and resilience.
“I thank them for giving me their very best because as a coach that’s all you can ask for. It’s my worst finish, but it’s a group that gave me a meaningful experience. It’s not entirely about the wins and losses but about the journey and how you grow together,” Reyes reflected.
“I’m also thankful to our coaching staff and support staff. We went through many ups and downs, but they always showed belief through the challenges.”
Reyes leaves behind a legacy of success, having led two versions of Gilas Boys into the FIBA World Cup. However, it’s not just the accolades that matter to him.
“I’m proud of those achievements, but I’m more proud of the relationships I’ve built with our teams. Seeing them succeed in their basketball careers and being better individuals after their Gilas Youth service outweighs anything we achieved on the court,” Reyes explained.
“But now I have two young kids at home, and the time away is starting to become heavier, so I’m looking forward to having more time for my family while still being a part of coach Tim’s staff. I’m at peace with how my Gilas Youth journey reached its completion.”
As Reyes steps down, the SBP now faces the task of appointing his successor. SBP Executive Director Erika Dy has assured that the search for the next head coach is already underway.
“We are already having discussions within the SBP,” Dy said. “We thank coach Josh for helping us streamline our processes as this will be valuable to the program moving forward. The focus remains to be continuity and synergy with Gilas Men and a stronger connection with our current Grassroots Program under coach Norman Black.”
