By REYNALD MAGALLON
Former Gilas Pilipinas head coach Chot Reyes is taking a much-deserved break away from basketball following a wild two-year stint at the helm which he described as ‘painful and brutal’.
Reyes decided to ‘step aside’ from his national team duties following the conclusion of Gilas’ campaign in the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup where the Filipinos ended up with a 1-4 record.
He is also pondering if and when he returns to the PBA.
For now, he is handing the keys to interim TNT head coach Jojo Lastimosa at least for the first conference of the league’s 48th season.
“I needed a rest. Si Jolas muna sa first conference. Then if I feel rested na, maybe I’ll think of returning sa PBA,” said Reyes.
“Pero kung maganda naman nilalaro nila under kay Jolas, bat pa naman natin guguluhin,” added the nine-time PBA champion and six-time coach of the year.
TNT did seem to be in good hands under Lastimosa as he steered the Tropang Giga to a Governors’ Cup title on his first foray as head coach last season.
TNT, behind Mikey Williams and import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson defeated the Justin Brownlee-led Ginebra in six games to claim the franchise’s first ever title in the season-ending conference.
