By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña
During his speakership in the Hoop Coaches International Webinar organized by PBA team Blackwater Elite, former Gilas coach Chot Reyes emphasized that the Gilas program does not need a foreigner coach in order to excel.
Tackling the topic #PUSO, Reyes pointed out that Filipino coaches are still the best option as head tactician for the national team, adding that PH coaches possess “pusong Pinoy” that the foreigners lack.
“Di ba? Maski gaano kagaling ‘yung foreign coach, wala siya ‘yung puso eh. Wala siya ‘yung pusong Pinoy, ‘di ba?” Reyes said during the Webinar.
Reyes added that he doesn’t have anything against foreign coaches, pointing out his high level of respect for PBA’s Tim Cone and Norman Black and the other foreign coaches he worked with including Rajko Toroman, Tab Baldwin, and Mark Dickel.
During the 2014 World Cup, Baldwin and Black were a part of Reyes’ selected assistants for Gilas including the legendary FIBA Asia roster that brought the country back to the basketball pedestal.
“I have huge, huge respect for foreign coaches. But in the end, where did it take us? ‘Di ba? Where have we gone with the foreign coaches,” Reyes added.
In closing, Reyes explained that there is nothing wrong with getting foreign coaches with the deepest experience, but no one can “capture the heart of the Filipino” than a co-Filipino tactician that will lead the team.
