After getting booed on Monday, Gilas Pilipinas coach Chot Reyes said he would rather be booed by the crowd instead of players receiving criticisms.
“Boo-hin niyo na ko ng todo, ‘wag niyo lang boo-hin ang players,” Reyes said after the national team’s victory against Saudi Arabi for the FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers Monday, August 30.
“Murahin niyo na ako, bash niyo na ako nang todo. Basta suportahan niyo ‘yung team, suportahan niyo ‘yung players,” the embattled coach added.
After the jeers received by their coach, Dwight Ramos and Jordan Clarkson stepped forward to defend Reyes.
“Thank you for coming out and supporting, but if you’re gonna support us, I’ll appreciate you guys not booing our coach. We’re all together as one, and I really didn’t appreciate that,” said Ramos.
“It wasn’t a good way for us to start the game. So if you’re gonna support us, support all of us ’cause we’re all in one team,” the 6-foot-4 guard continued.
The former NBA Sixth Man of the Year also shared the same sentiment as Ramos.
“I mean, he’s part of us. He’s one of us. He gets boos in the crowd. I’m not here, you know a lot throughout the years, so I don’t really know what’s going on, but from what I’ve seen in these last days, it’s kind of been some b*******,” Clarkson said after the game.
“Excuse my language… But yeah, he’s our coach, he’s one of us, he works hard, he puts all these together,” he added.
“Moving forward, I think we need to change our actions and show love and peace here,” Clarkson said.
Reyes was the first to talk to Clarkson about the possibility of playing for the Philippines during his college days and before his rise to stardom in the US professional basketball league, the NBA player revealed.
Clarkson first represented the Philippines at the Asian games in 2018.
READ: Clarkson cleared for Team Philippines in Asiad
Meanwhile, sports journalist John Bryan Ulanday said the public’s opinions are “valid and justified.” However, he said the public must also understand where Clarkson is coming from.
“After a long wait, you finally got to play in your first ever home game. Only to hear boos, whatever magnitude and to whoever it is aimed at,” Ulanday tweeted.
“In a way, it stole the spotlight and put a dent on the euphoria, the thrill, the moment, the experience, and the atmosphere you have been waiting to be soaked under for years,” the journalist added.
“We may have been disappointed for the past months, maybe over the years. But for sure, it could have waited some more. Not when it’s supposed to be Clarkson’s night,” he continued.
The national team will play against Jordan and Saudi Arabia on November 10 and 13, respectively.
READ: Clarkson, Gilas buck sluggish start to rout Saudi Arabia at home
