Chot Reyes to handle Gilas for FIBA Asia Cup

Chot Reyes returns as Gilas coach. PBA Images (file photo)

By Gil Mar Moriones 

MANILA--The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas on Friday night announced the comeback of TNT Tropang Giga head coach Chot Reyes as the leader of Gilas Pilipinas ahead of the 2022 FIBA Asia Cup in Indonesia from July 12-24.

Reyes makes a return to Gilas after letting Nenad Vucinic mentor the squad during the two scrimmages against South Korea and the recent window of the FIBA World Cup Qualifiers against India and New Zealand. 

Vucinic stays in the Gilas coaching staff as one of Reyes' assistants alongside Jong Uichico and Sandro Soriano.

The federation believes that the regional tournament will be crucial to the continuing development of the younger players ahead of the prestigious FIBA World Cup next year which the Philippines will host along with Indonesia and Japan.

"The FIBA Asia Cup will be a great way to measure how much Gilas has improved as they face off once again with New Zealand and India. It will also be a great chance to test our young squad against another top Asian team in Lebanon on the group stage," the SBP said in a statement.  

The tutelage experience of Reyes will be tested anew against familiar foes India and New Zealand as well as Lebanon as Gilas is grouped with the said teams in Group D for the first round of the FIBA Asia Cup

Reyes took a break from national team duties to focus on TNT's campaign in the PBA Philippine Cup but not without some complaints from fans after Gilas lost in the Southeast Asian Games men's basketball final against Indonesia last May, which relegated the Filipinos to the silver medal for the first time since 1989.

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