Chot Reyes uses Gilas’ game vs war-hit Ukraine as teaching moment on perspective

FILE – Gilas Pilipinas coach Chot Reyes reacts after winning the men’s basketball final against Cambodia at the 32nd Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games) in Phnom Penh on May 16, 2023. (Photo by MOHD RASFAN / AFP)

MANILA, Philippines—First, it was conditioning, then it was cohesion. What followed was smoothening gaps in its defense.

On the heels of a second victory over a young Ukrainian squad in the wee hours of Monday (Manila time), national coach Chot Reyes then moved to underscoring the value of perspective as Gilas Pilipinas continued its preparations for the Fiba (International Basketball Federation) World Cup here in August.

“I thought it was important for us to get the perspective of somebody from another team—most especially a team that’s undergoing extreme adversity,” he said of Ukraine’s under-20 squad whom his charges defeated, 84-74, in Lithuania.

“We all know what’s going on in Ukraine at the moment,” he added in a dispatch released by the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas later that day.

The Nationals, shortly after the match at Žalgiris Arena in Kaunas, gathered around 19-year-old Liev Koshevatskyi who spoke about the war that continues to ravage Ukraine to date.

Gilas has been training in the Baltic states in a buildup geared toward the World Cup that the Philippines will be cohosting alongside Japan and Indonesia. The national pool has been there since June 23 in a bid to bond, plot and prime for Italy, Angola and the Dominican Republic—three old tormentors that will test the mettle of the Nationals in the group phase of the global meet set Aug. 25.

Reyes said that he noticed a bit of restlessness within his quarters, prompting him to arrange for the huddle.

FILE – Gilas Pilipinas training in Europe for the Fiba World Cup. –SBP PHOTO

“[W]e’ve been here for more than a week already. They’re starting to miss their families, their kids, their wives. The players are making a lot of sacrifices to be here. They’re starting to feel the aches and pains of the two-a-days, the travel, the cold,” he said.

“I think it was important for them to gain [another view],” said Reyes. “As I’ve said, for me a very important part of coping with adversity is gratitude and having an appreciation of what you have.”

Reyes, who also does leadership talks on the side, also felt that the moment presented a chance to drill in the weight that comes with representing the flag.

“In the end, through all of the sacrifice that we’re all going through here, we’re still very grateful and very appreciative to do what we’re doing no matter how difficult it is and that we’re having the privilege of representing our country,” he said.

“And when you hear it from a player from Ukraine like that? For them, the honor of representing the country is on a different level than the honor that we feel representing our country,” Reyes added.

“I think just getting all those different perspectives is part of the learning process—broadening your knowledge, widening your perspective. Like we always say, it’s more than just basketball. Everything we’re doing here is more than just what happens within the four lines [of the court].”

Gilas, now 2-2 in its European camp, turns its sights on a Lithuanian selection this Tuesday. Game time is at 11 p.m. (Manila time) with former Ateneo ace and naturalized big man Ange Kouame now with the pool. INQ

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