No more SEA Games for Chot Reyes

Gilas Pilipinas head coach Chot Reyes. PHOTO BY RIO DELUVIO 

CHOT Reyes is just glad to close his coaching career in the Southeast Asian Games men’s basketball with a gold medal.

Moments after steering the Philippines to a gold medal finish in the regional basketball tournament, the outspoken Gilas Pilipinas coach vowed “never to coach in the SEA Games anymore.”

“Well, win or lose, this was my last SEA Games. I promise I will never coach here in the SEA Games anymore. At least, I was able to go out with a gold medal,” Reyes told media men, moments after Gilas Pilipinas accomplished its mission of reclaiming the SEA Games men’s basketball gold with an 80-69 drubbing of host Cambodia on Tuesday night.

Reyes said the regional basketball games are supposed to be reserved for the developmental team, pointing to younger players from collegiate leagues, a practice the Philippines used to do in the past.

“It (national team) really has to be our younger players who are supposed to play here,” said the 59-year-old Reyes, who atoned for his silver medal finish with Gilas in last year’s edition in Hanoi, Vietnam with this gold medal triumph in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

“Hopefully in the future, we can get together earlier to get the team to compete in Thailand.”

The 2025 SEA Games edition will shift to Thailand where events will be distributed in three venues in Bangkok, Chonburi and Songkhla.

Reyes believes the practice of sending back national teams composed of young players should be revived.

“I think [it’s] for the good of Philippine basketball. This really should bring younger players here for the SEA Games,” he stressed. “I have no authority, of course. It’s the SBP (Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas) that is going to make the determination. That’s just my personal opinion.”

The Philippines has been the undisputed basketball king in the Southeast Asian region after capturing its 19th gold medal overall, including 13 straight from 1991 to 2019.

Indonesia snapped the Philippines’ 28-year stranglehold of the basketball gold in 2021 Hanoi Games after scoring a gigantic 85-81 upset win in the final day of the round-robin tournament.