MANILA - In an announcement on Tuesday that caught a lot of Philippine basketball fans off guard, the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) announced the return of Chot Reyes as head coach of the Gilas Pilipinas, replacing erstwhile coach Tab Baldwin, who has been named team consultant.

SBP Executive Director Sonny Barrios made the official declaration this morning, explaining that the decision-making process lasted for around a month and that a final decision was made just last night.

Reyes first coached the national men's team at the FIBA Asia Championship 2007, where the Philippines came in ninth. He returned to the helm in 2013, replacing Serbian play caller Rajko Toroman. Reyes helped lead Gilas Pilipinas to a second place finish at the FIBA Asia Championship 2013 and to a memorable campaign at the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2014.

Baldwin took over for the FIBA Asia Championship 2015, where the Filipinos finished runners-up again, and for the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament (OQT), where Gilas failed to make it out of the Group Phase.

In the same meeting, 12 members of the Gilas Pilipinas pool were also present: Mike Tolomia, Russel Escoto, Arnold Van Opstal, Kevin Ferrer, Mac Belo, RR Pogoy, Almond Vosotros, Jio Jalalon, Von Pessumal, Ed Daquioag, Carl Cruz and Fil-Canadian Matthew Wright.

Most of those players saw action for Gilas in the FIBA Asia Challenge 2016, where the Philippines won just one of their five games. They will all be eligible in the PBA Draft 2016, and will be required to suit up for the national pool during international competition windows if they are called up. Coach Reyes also mentioned that each PBA club has pledged to lend at least one of their own players to the national pool.

This pool will be the foundation for Gilas' participation in regional (SEABA, SEA Games), continental (FIBA Asia Cup, Asian Games) and world-level competitions (FIBA Basketball World Cup, Olympic Games).

It's clear, however, what Reyes' goal is: to eventually have Philippines be in first place in Asia.

"There is one thing missing from our collection," he said. "We lack a gold medal in FIBA Asia. That's the only way we will make the 2020 Olympics. That's how far we're planning. We need the best representation for the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 and at the same time prepare us for the 2020 Olympics."

FIBA