By REYNALD MAGALLON
The thankless job of being Gilas Pilipinas head coach has become too heavy and too painful to bear for Chot Reyes.
The hate, the online vitriol and the calls for his resignation, Reyes can take it all but it was simply a different story when his family and loved one got involved.
And that was when the embattled coach felt it was the time to finally step aside with the national team.
“And subject myself to this again? Maawa naman kayo sa akin. It’s just been brutal. You all know. You are there. You are part of it,” said Reyes after announcing that he’s finally stepping aside as Gilas head coach following the team’s 96-75 victory over China on Saturday, Sept. 2.
“It’s just been brutal. Never mind me, but on my family and my loved ones. It’s just been brutal,” he added.
Reyes said he gave his best trying to make the most of the card that he had been dealt with. He had great plans for the preparation of the World Cup but he just didn’t have hands over the situation.
“We had a great preparation plan as we started preparations for this on June 12 but we got our first complete practice as a team on August 18, one week before our first game. Think about that,” rued Reyes.
And the worst part of it, with overly passionate fans behind, Reyes is expected to help Gilas deliver victories almost every time the team steps on the floor regardless of who they are facing.
“Still, we fought all of those opponents, Italy, Dominican, Angola, but we fell short. But France didn’t advance, Australia is not advancing, there’s so many powerful teams that are not advancing pero sa Pilipinas bawal matalo e,” said Reyes.
“Dito sa atin, bawal matalo. It’s just too heavy, masyado ng masakit.,” he stressed.
Gilas three losses in the group stage and the blowout defeat at the hands of World Cup debutant South Sudan that dashed Gilas’ outright Olympic berth hopes added fuel to the already burning hate towards Reyes – some of which were below the belt and simply unprintable.
“Just to be very honest, bastos naman talaga ‘yung mga ibang pinagsasabi so I don’t deserve it and my family doesn’t deserve it,” he furthered.
