Chot Reyes remains focused amidst intensifying clamor for his ouster
Chot Reyes has chosen to completely focus on the task at hand and ignore the intensifying calls for his removal as head coach of Gilas Pilipinas.
The 58-year old Reyes has been under fire lately from supporters of the Philippine national basketball team after back-to-back disappointing finishes in the 31st Southeast Asia Games and 2022 FIBA Asia Cup.
With the TNT mentor calling the shots, the country failed to defend its title in the biennial regional meet and then stumbled out of the top 8 in the continental showpiece.
“I’m just trying my best to keep my eyes on the big picture and hopefully, all of these things, there is a meaning behind. Hopefully, there is purpose in this pain,” said Reyes during an interview with PlayItRight TV.
“Just continue to choose faith over fear.”
Reyes, however, admitted that the ‘heat’ still manages to reach him despite being logged off on social media for quite sometime now.
“I’m logged off Twitter, off Facebook, so I do not see it, I do not read it. But of course, I know because the people around me, they’re unfortunately the ones getting the brunt of it,” said Reyes.
“I’d be lying if I say it is not affecting me personally. But the way I look at it, my attitude towards it is that when I accepted the job, I knew this is part of the territory.”
More than 5 months after the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) appointed him as program director and head coach of Gilas, Reyes insisted that he’ll continue with the program regardless of the public clamor for his resignation.
“As long as we have the support of SBP management and the leadership behind the program, then we’re just going to continue doing our job.”