Gilas Pilipinas head coach Chot Reyes may have found himself on the receiving end of jeers and boos from the mammoth crowd when the Filipinos routed Saudi Arabia, 84-46, but the embattled mentor found a rather comforting and reassuring words from the people whose opinions weighed heavier from the public outcry.
Jordan Clarkson, Kai Sotto and Dwight Ramos expressed their support for Reyes who has been in hot water ever since the series of misfortunes struck the national team – much to the frustration of fans.
And on that same day when these avid fans welcomed the NBA veteran in Clarkson arms wide, Reyes was at the center of all the hate from most of the 19,829 people who were present in the 15,000-seater Mall of Asia Arena.
It was a kind of ironic and baffling sight to witness especially on that same venue almost a decade ago, Reyes was also at the center of an electric crowd serenading him and his then brave and battle-scarred Gilas with cheers and chants after winning the silver medal in the FIBA Asia Championship which ended a three-decade absence of the country in the World Cup.
Reyes was then a hero. He’s now the villain. At least, to the eyes of those people who were outside looking in.
But for those who have sacrificed blood and sweat with him during the grueling days with the national team, they believe he doesn’t deserve the hate at all.
“Syempre kahit papaano, nasasaktan ako. Sorry sa mga fans, kasi kailangan niyong malaman 'to: Ang hirap maging isang coach, mahirap lalo na kung hindi niya makuha yung time or yung practice or yung mga gusto niyang kuning mga player,” said former Gilas player Marc Pingirs, who was behind the “Puso” battlecry of the national team.
“Kahit sinong ilagay mong coach dito, sasabihin ko na sa inyo, kahit si Coach Tab (Baldwin) ilagay niyo dito, pero one week practice lang, hindi nila kayang mag-champion o manalo. Ang buhay diyan, ‘yung coach tapos players, kailangan mag-gel talaga sila,” added the now retired cager who was one of the vital cogs for Gilas when it ended the so-called “Korean Curse” in the 2013 FIBA Asian Championships in Manila.
Even Reyes’ current players took offense with how the crowd reacted everytime the under-fire coach was being flashed in the jumbotron.
“If you support us. I would appreciate you not booing our coach. We’re all together as one. I really didn’t appreciate that. It wasn’t a good way for us to start the game so if you guys are gonna support us, please support all of us, we’re all one team,” said Ramos.
After all, the plans Reyes have drawn ever since his appointment in February seemed to start taking shape. Sure, the debacle in Hanoi during the 31st Southeast Asian Games, the lackluster performance in the third window and the disappointing finish in the FIBA Asia Cup may not be included in it but those were part of the growing pains.
The fourth window may have given the fans a glimpse of the team that will take part in the World Cup. It took the mighty Lebanon to the edge and dominated the hapless Saudi Arabia -- with a hastily built lineup around Clarkson and Sotto, and a total of five days of practice.
Reyes might be right: Save the jeers, the boos and the cheers in the World Cup.