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For Gilas' Chot Reyes, 2007 national team was 'strongest' he's coached

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Dominic Menor, ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2017/sports/01/28/chot-reyes.jpg"/><figcaption><div class="embed-desc">Chot Reyes, with Mark Caguioa and Ren-Ren Ritualo, head to the locker room after losing to Iran 75-69 in the FIBA Asia Championship in Japan in July 2007. Reyes calls that team &quot;the strongest&quot; he&#x27;s ever coached. File photo by Dominic Menor, ABS-CBN News</div></figcaption></figure></div>MANILA -- Chot Reyes has been in the business of coaching the men&#x27;s national basketball team for 10 years now, whether he&#x27;s actually calling the shots or peripherally as somebody who can lend sound advice to the person at the helm.He&#x27;s back as Gilas head coach, no doubt more seasoned and more knowledgeable about international basketball now than ever. Same goes with the Philippine basketball federation known as Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP); the country is a certified regional force to be reckoned with.In 2007, when Reyes was first handed the reins of the Philippine team, the landscape was much, much different. The association that oversaw the sport locally was a mess. The International Basketball Federation (FIBA) had just lifted a suspension banning the Philippines from world competition because of internal squabbles and the SBP had just been formed. In the world rankings, the country was an afterthought.It was in this backdrop that Reyes prepared his squad, studded with PBA stars, for the FIBA Asia Championships, now rebranded as the FIBA Asia Cup.&quot;I really loved that team that we had,&quot; Reyes said in the &quot;Staying Major&quot; <a href="https://ericmenk30.libsyn.com/" target="_blank">podcast</a>, made available to the public on Saturday, with former PBA pro Erik Menk.&quot;Until today, I think might be the best, not only the most talented but the most balanced, strongest.&quot;Reyes would go on to achieve better results, the silver in the 2013 FIBA Asia Championship being the most noteworthy.But when it comes to personnel, it&#x27;s hard to argue that 2007 was the most loaded.The back court was composed of Jimmy Alapag and Jayjay Helterbrand. The wings made up of Danny Seigle, Gabe Norwood and Kelly Williams were athletic and had size. The shooters were Dondon Hontiveros and Ren-Ren Ritualo. The bigs were Kerby Raymundo, Asi Taulava, Mick Pennisi and Menk.Everyone besides Norwood fresh off his division 1 stint at George Mason and Williams was still a rookie with Sta. Lucia in his absolute prime.That team was so strong the reserves were James Yap and Ranidel de Ocampo.On paper, Reyes&#x27; Team Pilipinas, way before it was dubbed Gilas, had no weakness. But plunging into the world of international basketball, the players were just babies.The SBP had only 4 months to assemble and prepare for the FIBA Asia tournament held in Japan in July. Because of the suspension, Reyes said, the Philippines&#x27; world rankings dropped so low that it played a factor in drawing the &quot;group of death&quot; with Iran, China and Jordan.&quot;If you put us in a different group, we could&#x27;ve gone to the semis at least. That was a tough situation for us,&quot; Reyes said in the podcast.&quot;Most of the guys on the team that was our first big-time international competition. We had the Brunei Cup, the Jones Cup, but it didn&#x27;t compare to the FIBA Asia at the time.&quot;Reyes has a lot of interesting stories he shared in this podcast. Check it out when time permits.

Chot Reyes has achieved better results in international competition but when it comes to personnel, it's hard to argue with that 2007 was the most loaded.

Chot Reyes has achieved better results in international competition but when it comes to personnel, it's hard to argue with that 2007 was the most loaded.

For Gilas' Chot Reyes, 2007 national team was 'strongest' he's coached

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For Gilas' Chot Reyes, 2007 national team was 'strongest' he's coached

Dominic Menor,

ABS-CBN News

Published January 28, 2017 01:58 PM PHT

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Updated January 30, 2017 12:01 AM PHT

Read More:

Chot Reyes

Gilas

Eric Menk

FIBA

Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas

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