Councilor Plaridel Nava: Chot Reyes resign

Iloilo City Councilor Plaridel Nava calls for the resignation of Gilas Pilipinas head coach Chot Reyes through Facebook.

Nava wrote a letter to Reyes with a copy sent to the Philippine Sports Commission, PLDT chairman Manny V. Pangilinan, and the Philippine Basketball Association and posted his letter on his Facebook page.

Nava’s call for Reyes’ resignation was posted after the Philippine team Gilas Pilipinas defeated Kazakhstan 67-65. Despite the win, Gilas failed to advance to the Semifinal round of the 2014 Asian Games, and this was all blamed to poor coaching by Reyes and benching Marcus Douthit in the game against South Korea.

Nava’s letter can be read below:

Dear Coach Chot Reyes:
cc: PSC, MVP, PBA

We have seen enough. Yes, there is no point in blaming and pointing fingers and there are no ifs and buts.
I strongly defended you in all discussions after every game during the world cup. But not anymore today. It is simple though. Your coaching has been measured and it has been found wanting.

For our country, for our pride and honor. I beg you. Please tender your voluntary and irrevocable resignation. Let’s give other coaches like Tim Cone and Yeng Guiao the chance to lead Gilas.

We deserve a better national team. We deserve to be happy.

I hope you understand. Thank you.

P.S. In case you want to know why I beg for your resignation, listed hereunder are the reasons:

1. The dribble and drive system is effective and efficient if we have exemplary and consistent shooters and slashers. It also caused a lot of dribbling than shooting. And thus it is prone to turn overs. It is easy to defend with being predictable.

2. The playing time of our players is not fair and commensurate. This results in lack of confidence, lack of momentum and grievances.

3. You take the negative reactions of the players too personal. They are professional basketball players and they are also sacrificing for our country. Treat them with respect. I personally witnessed it during the world cup. It happened in the past when the entire Sta Lucia Team led by Marlou Aquino staged a protest against you. And you were sacked by the management. Motivation is much different from humiliation.

4. Basketball fanatic like me is tired of your antics in court. We don’t need motions and too much animation. We want results, we need an effective game plan.