What has long been bruited about was officially announced Sunday by Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) President and Talk N? Text Owner Manny Pangilinan -Talk N? Text Coach Vincent ?Chot? Reyes will be the new Head Coach of the Philippine National Men?s basketball team - also known as Smart Gilas.
Reyes replaces Rajko Toroman who has since leaving Smart Gilas signed up as a consultant to the San Miguel Corporation basketball teams.
In a statement Pangilinan said ?While we are extremely happy with Chot?s performance with our TNT team these past years, our duty to flag and country dictates that we engage the right person for this important national position. After having been Gilas' assistant coach for the past two years, and with a sterling track record as Coach, I believe Chot deserves this appointment.?
The SBP president said Reyes ?will continue to be the Head Coach of the Talk N? Text team until the end of the current PBA season, which will happen sometime in August. Thereafter, Chot will concentrate full time on preparing Gilas for the 2013 FIBA-Asia tournament, which is the qualifying competition for the FIBA World Championships to be held in Spain in 2014."
The businessman-sportsman also announced that Reyes had been appointed d Executive Director of the MVP Sports Foundation, ?the umbrella organization of our group's over-all effort in sports promotion and development."
As a result of Reyes?s appointment as Smart Gilas head coach, Pangilinan also announced that Ateneo Coach Norman Black will take over as TNT Head Coach beginning the 2013 PBA season, after the UAAP 2012 basketball season is over. Black is aiming to steer the Ateneo Seniors team to an unprecedented ?5-peat? in this year?s UAAP competition.
Chot Reyes has piloted the Tropang Texters to five (5) Finals in his eight (8) conferences with the team, winning four (4) titles in this span. TNT has gone to the last four (4) Finals, and aims to be in its fifth straight finals appearance in the on-going PBA Commissioner?s Cup.
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