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FIBA: Clarkson backs under-fire Chot Reyes — 'He's one of us'

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Camille B. Naredo, ABS-CBN News

<div> </div><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="Filipino-American guard Jordan Clarkson in action for Gilas Pilipinas against Saudi Arabia in the FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News." src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2022/sports/08/29/20220829-fiba-gilas-saudiarabia-2md_4536-md.jpg"/><figcaption>Filipino-American guard Jordan Clarkson in action for Gilas Pilipinas against Saudi Arabia in the FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers. <em>Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News</em>.</figcaption></figure></div><p>MANILA, Philippines -- Filipino-American guard Jordan Clarkson made a public show of support for embattled Gilas Pilipinas head coach Chot Reyes, who was heavily booed during their game against Saudi Arabia on Monday.</p><p>Gilas Pilipinas recovered from a lethargic start and eventually crushed Saudi Arabia, 84-46, in their second game of the fourth window of the FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers.</p><p>But the triumphant result couldn&#x27;t take attention away from Filipinos&#x27; frosty response to Reyes, who has been under fire ever since he took over as head coach of Gilas Pilipinas in February. Clarkson alluded to the crowd&#x27;s reaction in his post-game message for the fans.</p><p>&quot;[I] appreciate everybody. We getting something started here. Support us, support our team, support our coaching staff, everybody. We&#x27;re building something special, so let&#x27;s get it,&quot; said Clarkson, who had 23 points in the win.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/08/29/22/clarkson-powered-gilas-bucks-slow-start-in-rout-of-saudi-arabia">READ: Clarkson-powered Gilas bucks slow start in rout of Saudi Arabia</a></li></ul><p>In his post-game press conference, Clarkson doubled down on his statement, saying that Reyes did not deserve the vitriol thrown at him both online and in person by the Gilas fans. </p><p>&quot;He&#x27;s part of us. He&#x27;s one of us. And hearing boos in the crowd, whatever is going on… I’m not here a lot throughout the years so I don’t really know what’s going on but seeing these last days, it&#x27;s kind of been some bullshit,&quot; said Clarkson.</p><p>&quot;Excuse my language, I don&#x27;t know if I can get fined by FIBA for cussing. But yeah, he&#x27;s our coach. He&#x27;s one of us. He works hard. He put us all together,&quot; he added.</p><p>Clarkson pointed out that Reyes had already walked away from the national team before; Reyes resigned in the wake of the Gilas-Australia brawl in July 2018 but was re-appointed to the post in February 2022 when Tab Baldwin stepped down. </p><p>For the Utah Jazz guard, this means that Reyes &quot;ain&#x27;t gotta deal with none of this shit.&quot;</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/08/29/22/fiba-chot-reyes-booed-by-home-crowd-at-gilas-game">READ: Chot Reyes booed by home crowd at Gilas game</a></li></ul><p>&quot;He ain&#x27;t gotta deal with none of the threats people give to his family. He’s coming back to this game &#x27;cause he loves it. He loves the country. He loves this team and each and everyone of us,&quot; he added.</p><p>Rather than criticize Reyes, Clarkson called on fans to express their support, especially with less than a year to go before the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023. The Filipino-American guard believes that they have something special brewing with Gilas, and he considers Reyes the right man for the job.</p><p>&quot;This World Cup, we gotta have each other’s backs. Support each other going through this. That’s all I got to say about that. I’m here with my coach. I know everybody in the locker room is, from the top,&quot; he said. </p><p>&quot;Moving forward, I think we need to change our actions and show some love and peace here,&quot; he added.</p><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="Gilas Pilipinas coach Chot Reyes. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News." src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2022/sports/08/29/20220829-fiba-gilas-saudiarabia-2md_4175-md.jpg"/><figcaption>Gilas Pilipinas coach Chot Reyes. <em>Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News.</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>The relationship between Clarkson and Reyes runs deep; Clarkson recalled that Reyes had approached him a decade ago about playing for the Philippines, when he was still in college. That he is now playing for Gilas Pilipinas -- together with the likes of Kai Sotto and Dwight Ramos -- shows that Reyes&#x27; vision is working.</p><p>&quot;Honestly, this is all been a blessing and for somebody that&#x27;s getting rocks thrown at him, who’s putting this together, bringing me and Kai [to the team],&quot; said Clarkson. &quot;I think we all just support him and support what we got going on.&quot;</p><p>Clarkson was not the only Gilas player to express support for Reyes. Ramos, asked for a message to fans after the game, said: &quot;Thank you for coming out and supporting us, but if you&#x27;re gonna support us, I&#x27;ll appreciate you guys not booing our coach. We&#x27;re all together as one and I really didn&#x27;t appreciate that. It wasn&#x27;t a good way for us to start the game. So if you&#x27;re gonna support us, please support all of us cause we&#x27;re all in one team.&quot;</p><p>Reyes was clearly touched by Clarkson&#x27;s statement, with the coach grabbing the player&#x27;s shoulder in a show of gratitude while the Jazz guard was talking. Afterward, Reyes again stressed that he remains the Gilas coach out of a sense of responsibility and service for the country.</p><p>&quot;I’m sure you know how many haters I have, I know that there are also supporters. Maybe not as vocal, maybe not as noisy. But as long as I can inspire one or two individuals, then it is all good and as long as we have the players together in that locker room,&quot; he said.</p><p>Reyes also made it clear that he is willing to accept the boos, the criticism and the hate, as long as his players are spared.</p><p>&quot;Boo-hin niyo na ako nang todo, wag niyo lang boo-hin yung mga players. Suportahan niyo lang yung mga players. That is fine with me,&quot; he said.</p><p>&quot;Murahin niyo na ako, bash niyo na ako nang todo. Basta suportahan niyo yung team, suportahan niyo yung players.&quot;</p><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen" frameBorder="0" height="100%" id="ivsplayer01" scrolling="no" src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/html/iframe-src.html?iframeid=ivsplayer01&amp;key=e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603&amp;spid=3001339&amp;vid=2200436" width="100%"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more News on <a href="https://www.iwanttfc.com/#!/browse/Genres/News/tag_id_genres/id_news" target="_blank">iWantTFC</a></div>

Filipino-American guard Jordan Clarkson made a public show of support for embattled Gilas Pilipinas head coach Chot Reyes.

FIBA: Clarkson backs under-fire Chot Reyes — 'He's one of us'

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FIBA: Clarkson backs under-fire Chot Reyes — 'He's one of us'

Camille B. Naredo,

ABS-CBN News

Published Aug 29, 2022 11:22 PM PHT

|

Updated Aug 29, 2022 11:53 PM PHT

Read More:

basketball

FIBA

Gilas Pilipinas

Jordan Clarkson

Chot Reyes

FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers

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