Chot Reyes, head coach of the Philippines men's national basketball team, looks on during the FIBA Basketball World Cup Classification Round game against China at Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City, the Philippines, September 2, 2023. /CFP
Chot Reyes, head coach of the Philippines men's national basketball team, stepped down after their final game in the FIBA Basketball World Cup at home on Saturday night.
"I really don't know. I don't know if I'm still gonna be here for that. I might have coached my last game already as Gilas Pilipinas coach," Reyes said when asked if he will coach the team for the qualifying tournament for the Paris Olympics in 2024.
He also denied that he was fired by the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP). "No, I haven't heard anything from management. It is my decision. Like everybody knows, I didn't apply for his job, I didn't volunteer. I was given this mandate. I had already retired from coaching the national team."
The Philippines lost four of their five games in the World Cup, including exiting the group stage with a 0-3 record. They failed to secure automatic qualification for the Paris Olympics, but the 96-75 win over China on Saturday enabled them to make the final attempt for an Olympic berth in the qualifying tournament.
Jordan Clarkson (#6) of the Philippines shoots in the FIBA Basketball World Cup Classification Round game against China at Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City, the Philippines, September 2, 2023. /CFP
"Through all the preparation and all these times, I always said judge us on the performance in the World Cup. And obviously we did not perform," Reyes said. "I take full accountability, and because of that I think it's time for me to step aside. I signed up to do a job, and I did not deliver the result. I think it's time to step aside and allow the SBP to make a decision for the good of the team and program."
This was the third time Reyes has stepped down as the coach of the Philippines in the past 11 years. He first took over the team in 2012 and led them to finish third in the FIBA Asia Championship in 2013. That result put the team back to the World Cup (known as the World Championship back then) for the first time in 34 years.
The Philippines finished the World Cup 1-4 in 2014. Reyes stepped down as the head coach later in the year.
The SBP appointed him for the position again in February 2017, but a brawl in the World Cup qualifying tournament in July 2018 cost him the job again.
Chot Reyes (L), head coach of the Philippines, hugs his player after the 96-75 win over China in the FIBA Basketball World Cup Classification Round game at Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City, the Philippines, September 2, 2023. /CFP
Back in February 2022, Reyes became the coach for the Philippines again, but he has faced pressure and criticism since he began this tenure.
"It's just been brutal. Never mind me, but my family (and) my loved ones," Reyes said. "It's brutal. I will never turn my back to serving my country, but there's a point where I have to think about my health and my family. Just to be honest, some of them were downright rude. I don't deserve it, my family doesn't deserve it."
The Philippines will have to find a replacement for Reyes soon because they will compete in the Asian Games in Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province in less than three weeks. They are in Group C with Jordan, Bahrain and Thailand.