WANTED: A new coach for Gilas Pilipinas for the coming 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China.

But the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP), headed by chairman emeritus Manny V. Pangilinan and president Al Panlilio is not in a hurry to find a suitable replacement for head coach Chot Reyes.

The SBP prefers to focus first on the remaining days of the FIBA World Cup, according to Panlilio.

“We wanted to first complete the World Cup. I think the focus should be on the World Cup: Panlilio said in a television interview with News5.

“Gilas just ended its campaign with a big win against China, but we still have this week to run the most important phase of the tournament, the final phase,” added Panlilio.

The country’s highest-ranked SBP official, however, acknowledged the challenges that Gilas Pilipinas is facing with only less than three weeks left before the Asian Games in Hangzhou.

To this day, the Justin Brownlee-led Gilas Pilipinas remains without a coach and a complete roster following the resignation of Reyes and the departure of several key mainstays due to previous commitments with their respective professional teams in Japan and Korea.

Reyes has earlier stepped down as Gilas coach following Gilas’ dismal performance in the FIBA World Cup 2023 where they managed only a 1-4 win-loss record and failed to advance to the sEcond round.

Top players Kai Sotto, AJ Edu and Dwight Ramos have also announced they are returning to their respective teams in the B-League in Japan, which is set to open at the same time as the Asian Games.

Another key player, Rhenz Abando, is also skipping the Asian Games to be able to rejoin his pro team in Korea.

Expected to lead Gilas Pilipinas in Hangzhou are World Cup veterans June Mar Fajardo, Japeth Aguilar, Scottie Thompson, CJ Perez, Roger Pogoy, Kiefer Ravena and Jamie Malonzo as well as Chris Newsome, Calvin Oftana, Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser.and naturalized player Ange Kouame.

The SBP said both Brownlee and Kouame are eligible to play in the Asian Games since the organizing committee only requires a passport to join the national team.

In Hangzhou, the Philippines is placed in Group C, along with Jordan, Brunei and Thailand.

The Filipinos will play Brunei on Sept. 26 at the Hangzhou Olympic Sports Centre; Thailand on Sept. 28 at the -Zhejiang University Zijingang gymnasium; and Jordan on Sept. 30 at theHangzhou Olympic Sports Centre.

Host China, on the other hand, is in Group B in the compnay of Lebanon, Taipei and Mongolia.

The other teams are Iran, Kazakhstan, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates in Group A, and Japan, Korea, Indonesia and Qatar in Group D.

Meanwhile, Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Rep. Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino said Gilas Pilipinas’ 96-75 victory over Asian rival China is expected to boost the morale of the FIlipino delegation to the Asian Games.

“That was one big victory over China. The win was confidence-building and that brought back the belief that yes, Filipino athletes can,” said Tolentino last Monday, or two days after Gilas Pilipinas closed out its campaign with a convincing 21-point victory over the Chinese.

Tolentino also expressed the same trust on the Filipinas, the women’s national football team which made history by qualifying for the Women’s World Cup and nailing a 1-0 victory over tournament co-host New Zealand last July

“Those are two momentum going for us in the Asian Games,” Tolentino said.