Jordan Clarkson calls on Gilas fans to support Chot Reyes: ‘He’s our coach, he’s one of us’

Jordan Clarkson came to the defense of Gilas Pilipinas head coach Chot Reyes who was booed by fans at the venue every time he was shown on the big screen during the national team’s home game against Saudi Arabia Monday night at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.

The move did not sit well with the Utah Jazz guard who played on Philippine soil for the very first time.

“I don’t really know what’s going on but from what I’ve seen in these last days, it’s kind of been some bullshit,” Clarkson said. “He’s our coach, he’s one of us, he works hard, he put all this together.”

“From what I’ve been hearing, he walked away from the game, he came back, he ain’t gotta deal with none of this shit. He ain’t gotta deal with none of the boos, he ain’t gotta deal with none of the threats people give his family,” he added.

“He’s coming back to this game because he loves it, he loves the country, he loves this team, each and every one of us, to be honest with you.”

The 2021 PBA 6th Man of the Year revealed that it was Reyes who invited him to play for the country while he was still in college.

“This is all what we envisioned, honestly. This has all been a blessing,” bared the 30-year old Fil-Am.

“For somebody to get rocks thrown at him, for putting all this together, and bringing me (and) Kai (Sotto), his dream, his vision that he had coming back to the game, is like I said, is bullshit.”

“I think we all should support him and support what he got going on because in this next World Cup, whatever we got, we all gotta have each other’s back and support each other going through this.”

The 46th overall pick of the 2014 NBA draft is hoping that Gilas fans reconsider their stand on the embattled mentor.

“Moving forward, I think we need to change our actions and show love and nothing but peace here.”