Habang naging mainit ang pagtanggap ng fans sa Gilas Pilipinas players sa kanilang laban kontra sa Saudi Arabia sa Mall of Asia Arena nitong Lunes, kabaligtaran naman ang nangyari sa kanilang coach na si Chot Reyes.
Sa pagsisimula ng laro para sa 2023 FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers, isa-isang tinawag ang pangalan ng players na umani ng matinding palakpakan mula sa fans.
Huling tinawag ang pangalan ni Reyes bilang national team head coach Chot Reyes, na umani ng boo! sa mga manonood.
Nang ipakita si Reyes sa screen, muli siyang na-boo ng mga tao.
Sa post-game conference kung saan inilampaso ng Gilas ang koponan ng KSA sa iskor na 84-46, binigyan-diin ni Reyes ang kaniyang trabaho bilang head coach ay isang paraan ng pagsisilbi sa bayan.
"The relationship, the bonds that we built, I'm willing to take all of that s—t," saad niya.
Coach Chot Reyes on boos from the crowd: I-boo n’yo na ako, huwag lang ang players. Suportahan n’yo sila. | via @jk_carandangpic.twitter.com/AGEKaGXlKT
— GMA Sports (@gmasportsph) August 29, 2022
Handa raw niyang tanggapin ang anumang negatibo basta nakapagbibigay siya ng inspirasyon sa iba kahit sa isa o dalawang tao lang.
"I'm sure you know how many haters I have. I know that there are also supporters that may not be as vocal, but as long as I can inspire one or two individuals, then it's all worth it," paliwanag niya.
"As long as we have the players together in that locker room," ani Reyes. "For me, I'd much rather get booed by the crowd than the players get booed by the crowd."
Patuloy pa ni Reyes, "Boo-hin ny'o na ako nang todo, pero suportahan n'yo ang players. Murahin n'yo na ako, i-bash n'yo na ako, basta suportahan n'yo ang team."
Samantala, idinepensa naman nina Jordan Clarkson at Dwight Ramos ang kaniyang coach, at iginiit na bahagi ng kanilang team si Reyes na dapat ding suportahan.
"He's one of us," ani Clarkson. "Hearing the boos in the crowd or whatever's going on, I'm not here a lot, so I don't really know what's going on but it's kinda bulls—t."
"He's our coach, he's one of us, he works hard, he puts us together," dagdag ng Fil-Am NBA player.
Ayon pa kay Clarkson, "He's coming back to this because he loves the country, he loves this team."
"For somebody to throw a stone at him for putting this together, putting me and Kai [Sotto], his vision coming back to the game, this is bulls—t," dagdag pa niya.
Hiniling naman ni Ramos sa mga manonood na huwag nang i-boo ang kanilang coach.
"Thank you for coming out and supporting but if you’re gonna support, I would appreciate you guys just not booing our coach," pakiusap niya. —FRJ, GMA News
