AFTER leading the Philippines to its first — and only — win in the FIBA World Cup 2023, Chot Reyes is stepping down as coach of the national team.

“Like I said at the last game, I take full responsibility (for what happened) and because of that, I think it is time for me to step aside,” said Reyes shortly after the Filipinos’ inspiring 96-75 victory over Asian rival China in their final game in the 32-nationl competition.

“I hate using the word resign because I am not a quitter. But I might have coached my last game already as Gilas Pilipinas coach,”added the 59-year-old Reyes, who has also already apologized to Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) Chairman Manny V. Pangilinan for the team’s mediocre performance.

“Through all the preparation and all these times, I always said judge us on the performance in the World Cup. And obviously we did not perform.”

“I think it’s time to step aside and allow the SBP to make a decision for the good of the team and program.”

Before Reyes’ formal announcement of stepping down as Gilas head coach, his top assistant Tim Cone and top player Jordan Clarkson expressed their support to the embattled mentor.

“If Coach Chot goes, I go,” Cone told One Sports in an interview.

“Some assistant coaches join a team with the hope of eventually becoming the head coach, but that’s not me. I’m here to serve as Coach Chot’s pleasure. I’m only here to support him because I believe in him,” added Cone, who dismissed suggestions that he takes over the team in the Hangzhou Asian Games later this month.

Clarkson, who led the Philippines’ impressive victory over China, was also very supportive of Reyes.

“All I got is respect for him and I took my hat off for him. That’s his decision today, but it’s all love,” said Clarkson.

“I could just start off with one word — respect. Like you said, he didn’t apply for this job. He didn’t do that, he got chosen and he has put everything on the line, his family and for the country as well,” added Clarkson.

“I just have super respect for him. I’ve been talking to him since I was young and we’ve been waiting for the opportunity to get together and you know, play the game, do this for a while. All I got is respect for him.”

Reyes, who was first appointed as Gilas coach in 2012, led the team to a respectable second place finish in the 2013 FIBA Asia Championship that enabled the country to qualify to the FIBA World Cup for the first time in 34 years.

As head coach, he piloted the June Mar Fajardo-led Filipinos to a 1-4 win-loss record where they dropped their first four assignments against Croatia, Greece, Argentina and Puerto Rico before beating Senegal in extra period.

He was reappointed coach in February 2017, but was replaced in August 2018 in the aftermatch of Gilas Pilipinas’ brawl with Australia in the Asian qualifiers.

Last year, Reyes was inserted back by SBP as head coach for the third time, but he was again villified on social media after the Philippines lost the gold medal in the 31st Southeast Asian Games in Hanoi, Vietnam.

Reyes claimed the social media attack was too much.

“I will never turn my back to serving my country, but there’s a point where I have to think about my health and my family.It’s just been brutal. Never mind me, but my family (and) my loved ones.

Some of them were downright rude. I don’t deserve it, my family doesn’t deserve it;”he added.