WITH less than three weeks before the 19th Asian Games kick off in Hangzhou, Gilas Pilipinas still has no coach after Chot Reyes “stepped aside” after their FIBA World Cup campaign last week.
The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas said it will make a decision after the World Cup.
“We want to first complete the World Cup. The focus should be on the World Cup,” SBP President Al Panlilio said yesterday on News5. “Gilas has ended its campaign with a big win against China.
“We still have this week to run the most important phase of the tournament, which is the final phase. The quarterfinals start tomorrow (today). The four teams are flying in today (yesterday),” he added.
Several names led by national assistant tacticians Tim Cone and Jong Uichico are reportedly in line for the Gilas coaching job if and when the SBP accepts the resignation of Reyes.
The likes of Tab Baldwin, Rajko Toroman, Nenad Vucinic, Norman Black, Jimmy Alapag, and Charles Tiu are also among those said being considered for the post.
“I’ve informed Mr. Panlilio and Mr. (Ricky) Vargas. But there’s no decision as far as I know. I don’t know about them,” Reyes said three nights back after the Philippine five manhandled China 96-75 in its final game of the World Cup.
“But before the game, I told them this is gonna be my last game already regardless of the result.”
But Cone said he is not interested in calling the shots for the Filipino cagers– for now.
“If coach Chot goes, I go,” Cone said in an earlier interview. “Some assistant coaches come into a team believing that they will get their chance to be the head coach someday but that’s not me.
“I’m here to serve at coach Chot’s pleasure. I’m only here to support him because I believe in him.”
Everything will be settled after the World Cup, according to Panlilio.
“That’s the main focus for us,” he said, referring to the blue-ribbon world cagefest. “Finish that, complete that first.”
