Gilas 2 coach Chot Reyes hoping for a better result

Newly-appointed Smart Gilas-Pilipinas 2 mentor Chot Reyes is keeping his fingers crossed, hoping that lightning does not strike him twice.   Moments after the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) placed him at the helm of the men’s national team set to campaign in next year’s FIBA-Asia qualifying meet for the 2014 World Basketball Championship, Reyes expressed hopes that his second tour of duty as Philippine head coach would net him a more pleasing outcome.   “Here we go again,” he said. “Let’s hope we get a better result than my first time.”   Reyes took over the spot left behind by Serbian coach Rajko Toroman, whose three-year contract with Smart Gilas expired last year.   Together, Toroman, with Reyes for his assistant, steered the Nationals to a semifinal stint in last year’s FIBA-Asia Championship, which served as the qualifier to the 2012 London Olympics. It marked the first time the country made it to the Final Four since a team composed of Alvin Patrimonio and Benjie Paras also did the trick during the 1987 edition of the meet.   Now Reyes will have to do it without Toroman by his side.   In Reyes’ first stint handling the RP squad five years ago, the Nationals finished in ninth place and failed to advance to the knockout stage of the 2007 FIBA-Asia qualifier for the 2008 Beijing Olympics.   The bid was marred by a costly 75-69 opening day loss to eventual champion Iran, which had Toroman as coach back then.   The members of that squad included Asi Taulava, Jimmy Alapag, Kerby Raymundo, Kelly Williams, Mark Caguioa, JayJay Helterbrand, Danny Seigle, RenRen Ritualo, Mick Pennisi, Eric Menk, Dondon Hontiveros and Gabe Norwood, the only player then who was not yet seeing action in the PBA. - AMD,  GMA News