Jeff Chan 'no comment' on new national coach, but defends Gilas performance

Gilas Pilipinas shooter Jeff Chan refused to comment on the ongoing search for a new coach for the national team to replace Chot Reyes.

 

"It's up to [the management] naman. Ayoko naman mag-comment dun," Chan said. "Kung sino man maging coach diyan, I think it's for the best."

 

Chan did not answer whether he would prefer to see Reyes back as the helm of Gilas, but defended the coach's system noting how it served the squad well in the FIBA Basketball World Cup.

 

"Nag-work naman e. Siguro napagod lang kasi nga 'yung preparation namin for the World Cup, one month and a half kaming away sa family at sa Pilipinas," Chan said.

 

While the team had an inspiring run in the World Cup, where they bagged a historic win against Senegal that ended a 40-year victory drought, Gilas stumbled to a seventh-place finish in the Asian Games. It was the worst performance by a Philippine team in the competition, leading to calls for Reyes' ouster.

 

"Pagdating ng World Cup, medyo buhos lahat, so siguro dun kami napagod," Chan said. "Kulang 'yung rest and preparations for the Asian Games."

 

Chan said that given enough time to prepare, Gilas Pilipinas will be able to improve their performance.

 

"Tsaka may time din makapag-rest after ng PBA season para 'yung body namin fresh pagdating sa tournament sa abroad," he added.

 

The Governor's Cup, the last of the three PBA conferences, ran from May to July last season, which rendered the national team pressed for time to prepare for the World Cup in August and the Asian Games in September.

 

Chan's Rain or Shine and Gilas Pilipinas teammate Paul Lee echoed his colleague's assessment, saying that the national team needs more time to practice and gel with each other.

 

"Mas maganda lang siguro kung laging sama-sama sa practice kaso hindi naman natin control 'yun kasi nga gawa nung may PBA tayo," Lee said.

 

He also refused to comment on the coaching change, saying that players simply have to follow and abide by the decision of the management. — JST, GMA News