Chot doesn't blame PBA for FIBA Asia Champions Cup troubles

MANILA, Philippines – National team head coach Chot Reyes assured that all is well between the Gilas Pilipinas program and the Philippine Basketball Association, despite a tough build-up for the upcoming FIBA Asia Champions Cup.

It was only on September 5 that the Philippines was awarded a wild card slot to the FIBA Asia Champions Cup, after Japan's SunRockers Shibuya squad withdrew due to conflicts with their own league's schedule.

The third and last conference of the PBA season, the Governors' Cup, is still ongoing, but the Philippines nevertheless will be represented in the 10-team competition by Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas, with former collegiate stars Jeron Teng and Kiefer Ravena leading the way along with imports Isaiah Austin and Rod Ebondo.

• READ: Isaiah Austin powers Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas in Champions Cup

Ronald Mascariñas, the president of Bounty Agro Ventures Inc., won't deny that the entire undertaking has been a massive challenge for them.

"From the start, I was nervous that there was not enough time to assemble and prepare a competitive team," he admitted during Tuesday's press conference. "But we are excited, because this is the first time that Chooks will carry the national team."

"This is an investment for the company that we cannot quantify. It is too much honor. We're honored that our brand will be side by side with the Philippine flag," he added. "Although this is a club championship, it's really a big honor for our organization and the brand."

Mascariñas noted that the build-up to the tournament showed exactly how difficult it was to assemble a team. "I was very hopeful that there will be veteran PBA players who can beef up the team, especially those who will not be playing in the quarterfinals," he said.

"But it's very sad that most of them were not released by their mother teams," added Mascariñas, who went on to praise Reyes and the players for fighting for the country despite the limited time and resources.

PBA players like Calvin Abueva and Terrence Romeo showed up to the team's practices at the Meralco Gym last week, despite Reyes' protestations. Ultimately, only a few PBA players were released by their clubs, notably Kia's LA Revilla.

Reyes made it clear that the PBA should not be blamed for the adversity that they encountered in building the Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas roster.

"When we put this together, this wasn't in the plan. This tournament was not part of the discussion with the PBA," he explained.

"To be fair to the PBA, they have no obligations to this team. Ang usapan lang namin sa PBA is, if their tournament is over, if we can get them," he added.

"There is no issue at all with the PBA," Reyes stressed. "This is a club championship, not a national team competition."

The team's stakeholders believe that the challenges they faced should serve Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas well when they compete in Chenzhou, China starting on September 22.

"If adversity builds strength of character, and strength of character builds champions, then this team is already a champion, with all of the adversity it has faced," said Robbie Puno, the vice-president of Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas.

"We barely had a month to prepare," added team manager Butch Antonio. "But regardless of adversity, it's the perseverance of the people around the team… it's the resilience of the people in this group that will probably carry us in succeeding in the FIBA Asia Champions Cup."

The team will practice in the Philippines for a final time on Wednesday morning, before leaving for China in the afternoon.

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