Cambodia’s basketball national team coach Harry Savaya praised Gilas Pilipinas after his team was defeated by the Filipino representatives for the gold medal last Tuesday.
Gilas won the gold medal after leading the game against Cambodia with 80 points compared to the 69 points achieved by the host team.
However, Savaya was disappointed with how Gilas coach Chot Reyes was blaming the weather of Cambodia when they lost during their first match.
He even offered to teach Reyes if the Filipino coach was interested to learn on how things work in Europe.
“The Philippine players, respect for all of them. They played with their hearts [out]. [But] they deserve better than someone to blame them like in the first round,” Savaya said.
“He blamed the weather, he blamed everything, he blamed the players. I don’t do that. I can teach him—if he wants—about coaching. In Europe, everywhere, the places he’s never been,”
It can be recalled that Savaya received criticisms from Filipino basketball fans 5 days ago because of the gestures made by the Lebanese coach during the endgame timeout of the first match between the Philippines and Cambodia.
Even members of Gilas confronted Savaya for his gestures.