Philippine team coach Chot Reyes has been the subject of an ever-increasing volume of boos since the national team’s dismal start at the FIBA World Cup. The hostility sounded at an all-time high during his introduction at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, where host team Gilas would eventually lose to powerhouse Italy, remaining winless with a 0-3 record.
The loss knocks Gilas out of contention and into the classification round, where dreams for the Paris 2024 Olympics are still at stake.
While the unpopularity of national team coach Chot Reyes is a familiar theme among the local basketball fanbase, Jordan Clarkson finds the country’s hostility towards one of its own as off-putting.
“Yeah, I think [it’s weird],” said Clarkson, “I’m really not around the situations to figure out what it’s for or whatever. But yeah, it’s a little weird, especially with us hosting and us being the home country.”
“But like I said, I don’t know much about the situation, but it does feel a little weird, and kind of out of the ordinary, honestly.”
Chot Reyes – FIBA
Other Gilas players reaffirmed their loyalty to Reyes despite the home crowd’s reception. One was long-time mainstay Kiefer Ravena.
“I’m gonna play for my coach ‘til the wheels fall off,” said Ravena.
“We have to use the crowd as an advantage, not as a disadvantage. Eto naman yung rason bakit natin dinala yung [FIBA] dito. [This is the reason why we brought FIBA here in the Philippines]
At the end of the day, nagpapasalamat parin kami sa mga sumusuporta.” [We’re still thankful for those who supported us.]
Meanwhile, crowd-favorite Rhenz Abando also came to Reyes’ defense, appealing to a sense of unity and saying it is only human nature to make mistakes.
Learning experience lng nman palagi yan