If this is the last time Chot Reyes will address the public as Gilas Pilipinas head coach, then he came out blazing against those who have heavily criticized him during his stint leading the country in the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 on home soil.
Reyes stunned everyone when he announced that he would step down from his post, but he was adamant that he would never use the word “resign” since he “was not a quitter.” He then gave an interview after the post-game press conference that gave him a chance to respond to his critics.
“It’s a decision I’ve arrived at with my family. I just think it’s time, you know? Like I said, we had a great preparation plan but we started preparations for this June 12 Independence Day, but we didn’t get our first complete practice as a team until August 18 — one week before our first game. Think about that,” said the former TnT Katropa mentor.
“Even Team USA started practice on August 3. Tayo nabuo lang tayo on August 18, which was the first practice that we had as a complete lineup. August 18 — seven days. And still we fought. We fought all of those teams. Italy, a top 10 team, Dominican Republic, Angola. We fell short. We fell short. But France didn’t advance. Australia is not advancing. There are so many powerful teams that did not advance. Pero sa Pilipinas, bawal matalo diba? Sa ating mga Pinoy, bawal matalo,” he continued.
“After a while, it’s just too heavy. Masyado nang masakit. Masyadong mahirap. Just to be very honest, bastos talaga yung ibang Pinoy. I don’t deserve it. My family doesn’t deserve it.”
Reyes stated that he informed Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas President Al Panlilio and Vice President Ricky Vargas of his decision to call it a day regardless of whether the Philippines beat China in its last game.
He was then given a signed match ball by his players as a gesture of gratitude for what he has done for them. When this was brought up to him by a reporter, the multi-time PBA champion finally commented about how it felt to be booed by the home crowd when his name was announced before each match.
“What people don’t realize, you know, yung sa akin yung booing before the games, ok lang yun sanay na ako dun. Kanina nga pinalakpakan ko eh but they don’t realize the effect sa players eh. May effect sa players kasi sila rin nawawalan ng… They get demoralized as well. Nagtataka sila bakit ba ganun, diba,” said Reyes.
“All of the calls for me to resign and all of that, siyempre nababasa ng mga players yan eh. Kahit naapektuhan din sila. It affects the game, the way we play games. It’s a distraction for the team. It’s not good for the team. They don’t deserve it. They don’t deserve it. Di bale na ako but my family and my players do not deserve it.”
As one of the most vilified people on social media, Reyes has had to deal with comments by people he has never met or will never encounter in his life. As a person with thick skin, he is ready to talk to them head-on.
The only condition for him is that these potential conversations don’t take place online.
“I will just ask all of my detractors and bashers, I’m willing to answer every single one of their comments as long as they talk to me face-to-face. Just don’t hide behind anonymity or whatever on social media,” he said. “Come talk to me face-to-face, and I will answer your points one-by-one on why certain decisions were made and why it is what it is, why things turned out this way.
“Yun lang naman yun. The players don’t deserve it. My family certainly doesn’t deserve it, so I ask my bashers and my detractors, I hope they’re as perfect as they put themselves to be as well.”
One way of spinning Reyes’ multiple reigns as Gilas head coach is that he got the country two wins in the FIBA Basketball World Cup. Anyone who will replace him will have to better that record.
For him, though, it seems that he is finally saying no to a job while going out with a bang. More than the good times and the bad times, he wants to be remembered as a fighter until the end.
“That I fought until I could not fight anymore for my country with all my heart,” he said.
