WHILE waiting for the arrival of Fil-Am NBA player Jordan Clarkson and prized big man Kai Sotto, Gilas Pilipinas was expected to buckle down to work last night to toughen up for the fourth window of the FIBA World Cup Asian qualifiers.
But the nationals are dealing with another dilemma: will coach Chot Reyes call the shots?
“Gilas Pilipinas is the priority,” was Reyes’ curt reply as he tried to avoid the Gilas topic after TNT’s 87-74 victory over Magnolia in Game 6 of their best-of-7 semifinals showdown in the PBA Philippine Cup last Sunday night.
With the series-clinching win, the Tropang Giga advanced to the best-of-7 finals that will run smack into the Big Dance of the import-less tourney, leaving Reyes in a quandary: Whether he will coach TNT or Gilas.
The Filipino cagers take on Lebanon in Beirut on Aug. 26 and Saudi Arabia three days later at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.
Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas executive director and spokesperson Sonny Barrios said the cage body has yet to decide but is certainly keen on winning whoever the coach will be.
“Sino (Gilas coach for the fourth window?) Sa ngayon hindi ko masasagot with a definitive reply,” Barrios said last Saturday on Radyo5 92.3 News FM’s Power and Play program hosted by former PBA commissioner Noli Eala.
“Siguradong mag-uusap iyan hanggang sa taas, kung paano natin tatalakayin iyong Lebanon at saka Saudi Arabia games dahil iyon po, kailangan manalo tayo doon. Gusto nating manalo doon.”
Reyes’ Gilas think tank includes Ginebra tactician Tim Cone, Jong Uichico, Nenad VuÄinić, and Goldwin Monteverde.
Aside from Clarkson and Sotto, initially named to the pool were Japan B. League standouts Dwight Ramos, Kiefer Ravena, Thirdy Ravena, and Bobby Ray Parks Jr., as well as Carl Tamayo of University of the Philippines, La Salle’s Kevin Quiambao, and Francis Lopez.
The rest of the pool will be composed of PBA players who will be named after the semis of the season-opening tourney.
The Philippine five wound up ninth and missed the quarterfinals of the FIBA Asia Cup last month in Jakarta for the first time since 2007.
With Reyes also calling the shots, Gilas failed to win the gold that matters most to Filipinos in the 31st Southeast Asian Games in Vietnam last May.