Reyes was a big reason the Gilas U16 went on a giant-slaying run in Qatar.
While the FIBA World Cup 2023 was ongoing, Gilas Pilipinas Youth head coach Josh Reyes pulled double duties. He would assist his father, Gilas head coach Chot Reyes, with the World Cup team in their games and practices while also spending late evenings with his U16 squad.
In some of the Gilas tune-up games and practices, the U16 team sat together at the PhilSports Arena. The younger Reyes had two reasons for doing it. First, since they ran some similar sets, the coach wanted the kids to see their plays in action. Second, he wanted them to visualize that this would be their stage in the future.
Coming into the FIBA U16 Asian Championship in Doha, Qatar, Reyes knew he had a good group of guys around him, and with hard work, determination, and a bit of luck, they could reach their goal: becoming World Cup qualifiers themselves.
Only the semifinalists would be able to book spots in the FIBA U17 World Cup in Turkey next year. Australia and New Zealand are locks, so this means only the best two Asian teams will make it.
The Philippines opened its campaign with an 84-67 loss to China but responded with dominant victories over Kazakhstan and Malaysia to reach the next stage.
To qualify for the quarterfinals, the Philippines faced off against South Korea, a team the Philippines had never beaten in a Youth tournament. In an unbelievable plot twist, Gilas Youth beat Suth Korea in their own game as Joaquin Gabriel Ludovice exploded for 25 points on 7-for-12 shooting from the three-point range to lead the team to a 95-71 victory.
In the final eight, Gilas drew Japan.
During the last World Cup, Filipino fans could only look at what Japan accomplished, wishing it was us instead. In Qatar, our younger players reminded us that we still have the talent. We still have the raw materials, but we have to put more time and effort into building them up to become successful at the top level.
The coaching was on point against Japan, a team that did not lose a single game in the group stage. Reyes employed a 3-2 zone defense that also worked wonders against South Korea.
The team’s three-point shots did not fall in the quarterfinal game (5-for-23) but the more important thing was that Japan also struggled to shoot from outside (3-for-30).
Kiefer Alas was spectacular, as usual, with 29 points and 9 rebounds against Japan. However, in the end game, he missed a couple of shots where he decided to go one-on-one. With the Japanese side cutting the deficit to a single point, 60-59, with two minutes left in the game, Alas grew up right in front of everyone’s eyes as he issued two pinpoint assists to Bonn Ervin Daja to stretch the lead back up to five points and guarantee the win.
After one last Gilas stop with 9 seconds remaining in the match, Alas headed to the bench on the verge of tears, but he was quickly met by his head coach who just called a timeout. The game was not over yet. He had to refocus on the task at hand.
As the final buzzer sounded, Reyes approached Japan’s bench, but while his team celebrated at center court. Alejandro Martinez, Japan’s head coach, refused to shake his hand.
This kind of disrespect isn’t new for coach Josh Reyes. He’s heard it before and he’ll probably hear it again. When fans threw hate toward Coach Chot, some of it would land on Coach Josh’s lap as well.
Even the comments section of FIBA’s YouTube broadcast would have its fair share of vitriol coming from some Filipino fans against him. Why? Because people assume he only got the head coaching gig because of his dad.
Did it help that Coach Chot is his dad? Of course, it did.
Was it the only reason? No, it’s not.
With the victory over Japan, the Philippines is now one of the two best U16 teams in Asia, which means they will be heading to the FIBA U17 World Cup next year.
Now, did the younger Reyes come to this tournament hoping to change people’s opinion about him? Probably not. Did these unflattering opinions changes? Maybe, maybe not. But the result speaks for itself.