Serious applicant
Hopefully, I can get the opportunity to talk to them and present to them how I feel I could the national team program
It seems that nothing can stop Will Voigt from chasing the vacant coaching job of Gilas Pilipinas.
The noted American mentor reiterated his willingness to call the shots for the men’s national basketball team in various major international tournaments leading to the prestigious FIBA Basketball World Cup that the country will host in 2023.
Voigt said he is hoping to land a meeting with top Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas executives led by president Al Panlilio and chairman emeritus Manny Pangilinan where he would present his plans and programs for the national team.
If ever, it won’t be the first time for Voigt to apply for such a high-profile coaching position.
In fact, he already talked with Pangilinan via Skype to apply for the vacant coaching post at TNT KaTropa in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA).
But the industrialist declined his application and tapped former New Zealand national team member Mark Dickel as active consultant, instead.
Now, Voigt wants to reach out to Pangilinan and Panlilio anew to give his application another try.
“The federation will do the process that they wanted,” said Voigt during the press launch of Mighty Sports, where he was tapped as the chief deputy of head coach Charles Tiu.
“Hopefully, I can get the opportunity to talk to them and present to them how I feel I could the national team program.”
Voigt’s coaching resume is dotted with stars.
He used to be an intern with the Los Angeles Clippers before becoming a video coordinator for Greg Popovich with the San Antonio Spurs, a job similar to what champion mentor Erik Spoelstra used to handle for the Miami Heat.
Then, he bounced from Norway to the United States and China until landing on Nigeria in which he led its national squad to the AfroBasket crown in 2015, a feat that served as its ticket to the Rio de Janeiro Olympics.
The following year, he took a four-hour flight to Angola to lead its national squad to the FIBA World Cup in which it defeated Gilas Pilipinas in overtime, 84-81.
Prior to the World Cup, Voigt was in Manila to help his friend, Ariel Vanguardia, in preparing Phoenix Pulse for the new PBA season.
He didn’t stay long, but that’s how his love affair with local basketball started.
“It gave me the opportunity to study a lot of players here so, hopefully, all that experience is something I can bring to the team and help Charles as much as possible,” Voigt said, adding that he already has a program in place just in case Pangilinan and Panlilio give him a call.
In a previous statement in China, Voigt said he is looking to bring in Philadelphia 76ers assistant coach John Bryant to his staff just in case he clinches the coaching role of Gilas Pilipinas.
Bryant and Voigt used to work together for Bakersfield Jam in the NBA Development League and his vast knowledge in advanced scouting, video breakdown, strength and conditioning, planning, strategizing and player personnel could be a big help to Gilas Pilipinas.
Right now, Bryant is getting a lot of offers, including from the Cleveland Cavaliers, following his successful performance with the Nigerian team in the Olympics and the Angolan side in the World Cup.
“John is with the Sixers, but he’s free for the summer. He will join whatever team I ‘m coaching,” said Voigt, adding that Bryant is married to a Filipina, Allison Agus, and wants their five-year old son to get a Philippine passport.
The Gilas coaching position remains vacant.
But multiple sources told Daily Tribune that Dickel — the man who beat Voigt for the TNT KaTropa job — is on top of the list.
After all, the next international tournament, the FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers, will roll in February and Dickel would be free to handle the Nationals since his role with the KaTropa is just an active consultant.
His closeness to Gilas program director Tab Baldwin, his former coach in the New Zealand national squad, also gives him a massive edge over other professional coaches.
Still, Voigt wants to give Gilas Pilipinas a serious try as he wants to experience the Filipinos’ love for basketball.
“I’m not surprised, but the work ethic of everybody has been great. That’s goes to show that their passion for the game is high,” said Voigt, leaving his fortune to the hands of Pangilinan, Panlilio and ranking other SBP executives.
“You have that in your culture already. You have players who want to work hard and really love basketball. That’s already a big first step.”