ALLAN THE MAN

Former national team head coach Chot Reyes has some ideas as to who should take his place in the Gilas Pilipinas program, but is also wary of pre-empting the Search and Selection Committee formed by the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP).

Reyes last week requested the Committee not to consider him for the post anymore, paving the way for a smooth transition.

Former Philippine national men’s basketball team coach Chot Reyes has asked the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) selection committee not to include his name in the search for the next Gilas Pilipinas head coach.

Reyes was named head coach of the Gilas national team in 2012, his second stint as national team coach. Under him, the Philippines finished runner-up in the 2013 FIBA Asia Championships in Manila and qualified for the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup in Spain. The team also won the 2012 Jones Cup and picked up a bronze medal at the 2014 FIBA Asia Cup.

CHOT REYES OFFICIAL: STATEMENT BELOW:

The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) on Thursday said it is currently searching for a new coach and a new Gilas Pilipinas team as it announced the selection of a formation committee that will oversee the assembly of the next national basketball squad.

The announcement effectively "disbanded" the national team that finished second in the 2013 FIBA Asia Championship and removed Chot Reyes as national team coach.

Gilas Pilipinas head coach Chot Reyes is keeping his fingers crossed that NBA player Andray Blatche would eventually beef up the team that will try to put an end to the 52-year gold medal drought in the Asian Games.

National team coach Chot Reyes remains optimistic despite the decision of Greg Slaughter and Marcio Lassiter to withdraw from the Gilas Pilipinas training pool.

Reyes said he still has 15 players in the training pool, from which he will pick the Gilas Pilipinas final lineup for the FIBA Basketball World Cup tournament in August.

“We're 15-strong. We've always faced adversity. We've always found a way, or we will die trying #LabanPilipinasPuso,” he said through on his Twitter account.

Philippine national men’s basketball coach Chot Reyes has announced the pool of invitees for the Gilas Pilipinas squad that will represent the country in two major international competitions this year.

Reyes named Jimmy Alapag, Jayson Castro, Ranidel De Ocampo, and Larry Fonacier of Talk ‘N Text; Beau Belga, Jeff Chan, Paul Lee, and Gabe Norwood of Rain or Shine; Japeth Aguilar, Greg Slaughter, and LA Tenorio of Barangay Ginebra San Miguel; Gary David and Jared Dillinger of Meralco; June Mar Fajardo and Marcio Lassiter of San Miguel Beer; and Marc Pingris of San Mig Coffee into the pool, alongside naturalized center Marcus Douthit.

Brooklyn Net big man Andray Blatche, whose naturalization process is already underway in Congress, is also a candidate for the team.

National team coach Chot Reyes wants Gilas Pilipinas to reach at least the second round of the 2014 FIBA World Basketball Cup, despite the stiff competition.

Gilas Pilipinas is grouped with basketball powerhouses Argentina and Greece, which are ranked third and fifth in the world, respectively. Also included in their group are Croatia (16th), Puerto Rico (17th) and Senegal (41st).

However, Reyes still hopes the Philippines will pull off a miracle and survive the first round.

“We have no illusions about our group which is very tough but like I said we relish it. We are going to prepare very, very hard. For a team like the Philippines there is no easy group for us in a competition like this,” Reyes said in a Philboxing report by Ronnie Nathanielsz.

GILAS Pilipinas coach Chot Reyes bared on Thursday that they are looking to tap either Javale McGee or fellow NBA player Andray Blatche to reinforce the national team in the Fiba World Cup in Spain in August.

Emerging from a meeting with the PBA board on Thursday, Reyes said two bills have been filed in Congress by Rep. Robbie Puno seeking the naturalization of McGee of the Denver Nuggets and Blatche of the Brooklyn Nets.

Gilas Pilipinas coach Chot Reyes said Calvin Abueva will have to change his attitude if he has hopes of joining the national team for the FIBA World Basketball Cup.

In an interview with SPIN, Reyes said he wasn’t pleased to see Abueva’s “nganga” gesture during Alaska’s quarterfinals with Barangay Ginebra.

"Isipin mo naman, dala mo ang bandila ng Pilipinas tapos makikita ka dun nagkakain-subo ka habang naglalaro ka," said Reyes.

National team coach Chot Reyes is hoping that the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) and the PBA teams will grant members of Gilas Pilipinas more practice time in preparation for the FIBA World Cup and the Asian Games.

The FIBA world Cup is set to take place from August 30 to September 14, while the Asian Games will take center stage from September 19 to October 4.

Pop superstar Justin Bieber arrived in the country on Tuesday, as part of his efforts to help raise funds for victims of super typhoon "Yolanda".

Bieber arrived via a private plane, which landed at a private hangar near Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 2.

All eyes may be on crowd favorite Barangay Ginebra, which has made vast improvements to its lineup, but former PBA coach Chot Reyes believes 3 other teams are more dangerous than the Gin Kings.

The current Gilas Pilipinas coach said among those teams that are likely to dominate the coming PBA Philippine Cup are Talk ‘N Text, Rain or Shine, and San Mig Coffee.

“Sa akin, lamang pa rin yong matagal ng magkakasama. There’s Talk n Text and Rain or Shine. San Mig is always tough with coach Tim Cone,” said Reyes in the PBA website.

THE list of teams eyed for tune-up matches by Gilas Pilipinas in preparation for the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup is widening, thanks to the goodwill the Philippines has generated from its successful hosting of the 27th FIBA Asia Championship last month.

Gilas Pilipinas coach Chot Reyes bared this on Thursday, posting on his Twitter account @coachchot: “RP FIBA hosting goes all the way to EuroBasket. NBA scouts, Euroleague officials, agents - have nothing but great feedback for Manila."

The FIBA World Cup is still a good 11 months away, but this early Gilas Pilipinas coach Chot Reyes is already looking forward to the opportunity of playing tune-up matches against former Olympic champion Argentina, Angola and Dominican Republic.

“Just got word fr our Spanish contact Argentina,Angola, Dom Rep are open to pre World Cup games w us.Will meet in Slovenia to ask Euro tms too,” Reyes said on his Twitter account @coachot on Thursday while on vacation cum scouting trip in Europe with wife Cherry.

Following its successful campaign in the world championship qualifier, Gilas Pilipinas chose to beg off from competing in the 24th Fiba-Asia Champions Cup set in Amman, Jordan next week.

The unavailability of players for the Sept. 13-21 tournament was the reason team manager Butch Antonio cited for the non-participation of the country in the meet last staged here in 2011.