Chot pleased to get things started in journey to 2023 World Cup
National team head coach Chot Reyes said that the basketball program "has to start somewhere."
That "Point A" got its realization on Monday night when the current pool for the second window of the FIBA World Cup Qualifiers in China took the court together alongside the selection for the 2023 edition which is slated here.
"We have to start somewhere. That’s our dream for Philippine basketball for the longest time. Now we’re starting that with that vision in mind, to have tall players who can still play, run and shoot at the same time," Reyes told reporters during the conclave at the Meralco Gym.
"Somebody was mentioning [during] the shooting drills na 'lahat nakaka-shoot ah.' That’s the reason why they're here. They were chosen all for their shooting ability. Every single guy that we picked has to have a shot — even the bigs," he added.
Reyes went on to laud what he has seen from both his longtime and new wards.
"[I'm] very pleased with the kind of engagement that I saw. We are purposely making them to do things quickly because we’re trying to see who can pick up very quickly," he shared. "Kaya kagaya nun, konting runs, konting sets lang, sinabak na agad namin sila sa ginagawa ng (veterans)."
The longtime national team tactician also noted that the approach was justified as this bunch is the crème de la crème of the country's sport.
"They’re the cream of the crop so ang pag-pick up sa kanila dapat very quick. That’s why we’re trying to do these things," Reyes explained.
The training sessions will now continue ever Monday night in order to ensure program hums soundly. But there's a catch. —