Gilas Pilipinas head coach Chot Reyes reiterated that the focus remains on putting up the best team possible for the 2023 World Cup following his discussions with the rest of his coaching staff last Saturday, Aug. 6.
Reyes met with his coaching staff that features some of the best minds in Philippine basketball, including multi-titled Ginebra coach Tim Cone, UP champion coach Goldwyn Monteverde, Meralco consultant Nenad Vucinic and longtime national team assistants Jong Uichico and Josh Reyes, to discuss the composition of the Gilas lineup for the fourth window.
“It’s a long meeting, a lot of discussions were made. A lot of options, possibilities and a lot of plans were discussed. We will continue meeting over the next few days and like I said everything we are doing has only one objective, to put the best team forward, prepare and assemble the best team,” Reyes told reporters in the aftermath of TNT's pulsating 93-92 escape over Magnolia in the PBA semifinals on Sunday, Aug. 7.
“I want to focus on the term team, not the best group of players or best group of superstars but the best team and we can continue doing it with constant communication with the PBA with the Board of Governors and Comm. Willie (Marcial),” he added.
While the coaches deliberated on who to pick for their lineup for the August window, the coaching staff agreed that the games against Lebanon and Saudi Arabia in the fourth window will only give them an opportunity to take a look on which players they can bring in for the final roster in the World Cup.
“Everything that we’re doing right now is we’re taking a look kung sino ang pwede, it’s an opportunity to study,” said Reyes.
“Inulit na naman ni coach Tim (Cone) kagabi yun. We don't really need to win the game against Lebanon. It’s good for PR, it’s gonna be good for me, I guess, (as response) to my haters but for the whole team objective not necessarily,” he stressed.
Reyes added that he and his crew will continue to work that way even in the upcoming windows in hopes to pick the best team.
“We really need to continue figuring things out, learning and developing and growing. I’m very optimistic that we are going to put the best team together come August 2023.”